Shadyshark Hanover delivered in the lone $25,000 Governor's Cup elimination for two-year-old pacing colts for driver Jody Jamieson on Saturday night
at Woodbine Racetrack.
Rollwithitharry (Yannick Gingras) and Ohmygosh Hanover (Mark MacDonald) were both quickest off the gate and battling for position but it was Rollwithitharry controlling the lead as Ohmygosh Hanover settled for the two-hole at the quarter in :26.3. Post time favourite, Shadyshark Hanover was unable to find a seat and was on the outside.
As the two-year-olds marched down the backstretch, Breeders Crown runner-up Shadyshark Hanover was still parked so Jamieson sent his charge to the front reaching the half in :55.
Fashion Delight was called upon by driver Dave Miller and was first over with Foreclosure N (Sylvain Filion) on his helmet as Shadyshark Hanover took his rivals past three-quarters in 1:23.2.
Racing into a strong headwind down the stretch, Shadyshark Hanover was under an all-out drive to capture the victory in 1:50.4, a new lifetime best. Fashion Delight and Foreclosure N were second and third.
"I wouldn't be surprised if this is the fastest mile all night," Jamieson commented in the winner's circle. "I don't know how much more you could ask in a two-year-old.
"He qualified great and I talked to a few guys who drove him in the past and they told me a few things about him. He was parked three-eights of a mile but he was great.
"We had a couple factors against us today; the eight-hole and the strong wind. This colt overcame it all and was exceptional."
The son of Cams Card Shark-Shasy Past lifted his career earnings to $347,582 for trainer Erv Miller, who co-owns with John Fielding of Toronto, Richard Strachan of Ajax, Ont. and Ron Michelon of Northbrook, Illinois. Shadyshark Hanover has drawn Post 3 in the lucrative final.
The post positions for the $709,000 are assigned below:
1. Rollwithitharry
2. Fashion Delight
3. Shadyshark Hanover
4. Ohmygosh Hanover
5. Risk Management
6. Arsenal
7. Foreclosure N
8. Westwardho Hanover
9. Big Jim
10. Prana
AE1. Mickey Hanover
A pair of $25,000 Valley Victory eliminations also took place tonight at Woodbine Racetrack featuring the best two-year-old trotting colts in North America. Blue Porsche and Luckycharm Hanover captured their respective eliminations for their connections.
Fresh off a victory in the International Stallion Stakes at Lexington’s The Red Mile, Luckycharm Hanover delivered as favourite to capture the first elimination for Hall of Fame driver John Campbell.
Jr Alber (Ron Pierce) left the quickest off the gate from Post 7 and crossed over before the first turn reaching the quarter pole in :29. For You Almostfree (Yannick Gingras) was positioned second with The Evictor sitting third.
As the field headed towards the half, The Evictor was called upon by driver Trevor Ritchie and cleared to the lead but that would not last long as Luckycharm Hanover was on the outside and cleared to take command before the half in :58.4.
As the field headed around the final turn, Jr Alber made a costly break in stride, which allowed For You Almostfree to move into third position. Luckycharm Hanover led his rivals past the three-quarters in 1:27.1.
As the field turned for home, Luckycharm Hanover was called upon by Campbell and the pair opened up on their rivals to score the win in 1:56.2. Pocket-sitter The Evictor finished second while Pegasus Blue Chip (Jody Jamieson) was third.
"He was a little unsure of himself getting off of the gate," Campbell commented in the winner's circle. "It's a big adjustment coming from The Red Mile back to a stone dust track. The further in the mile he went the more sure he seemed to be and I was very happy with his effort.
"He responded very well at the head of the stretch. We came a last quarter in :29 and a piece, which is pretty good tonight considering the wind. He has certainly matured but we had a problem with him being on the right line earlier in the year. Finally, the last month he has come off that line and now he's very easy to drive."
Luckycharm Hanover, a son of Andover Hall-Lady Luck Hanover, increased his freshman earnings to $183,227 for trainer Darren McCall and owners Arthur Rudolph, Rudolph Stables and Bernard Owen.
In the second elimination, the second choice, Blue Porsche delivered in the late stages of the mile for driver Trevor Ritchie.
Orlando (Dave Miller) was quickest off the gate from Post 3 flashing first quarter speed of :28.1. As the field headed towards the half, race time favourite Pastor Stephen (Yannick Gingras) moved to the outside and was looking to take command at the half in :57.4. Orlando, who was still the leader, made a break in stride which allowed Pastor Stephen to take over command.
Bluegrass winner Blue Porsche was first over on the outside around the final turn. As Pastor Stephen marched past the three-quarters in 1:26.3, Blue Porsche was not far from the race leader.
Late in the mile, the two freshman trotting colts were strides apart but it was Blue Porsche getting the best of Pastor Stephen as he stopped the timer in a Canadian record time of 1:54.4. Pastor Stephen stayed for second with Whiskey Tax (John Campbell) third.
The time of the mile lowered Broad Bahn and Lucky Chucky's Canadian record for two-year-old trotting colts by two-fifths of a second.
"The last few times I raced this horse down in Lexington he seemed to like it from off the pace," Ritchie commented in the winner's circle.
"I figured Yannick would pull if he heard someone coming so I was happy to get his cover. I lost his cover when that other horse make a break on the lead but my horse dug in late in the mile to win."
Blue Porsche, a son of Glidemaster-Machita, increased his freshman earnings to $136,161 for trainer Blair Burgess for his father Bob and wife Karin.
The $539,000 final will line up with the following posts:
1. Whiskey Tax
2. Blue Porsche
3. Luckycharm Hanover
4. For You Almostfree
5. The Evictor
6. Can Anyone Explain
7. Pegasus Blue Chip
8. Mr Web Page
9. Pastor Stephen
10. Highland Thunder
AE1. Jr Alber
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(With files from WEG)