Even though Zorgwijk Kingpin has scraped into Saturday's Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals at Woodbine Racetrack, co-owner Joe Serratore has explained why the
chestnut son of Southwind Lustre may come away from the event a lot richer.
A report by the London Free Press explains that allergies, an ulcer and anemia have all been factors in a sub-par season for the career winner of five races and $279,693 in purses.
Serratore explained that the student of trainer Ronnie Maclean had a tough time with the blistering summer weather Southern Ontario sweltered in this year. He had thrived during the cooler summer of 2009, a time in which he was one of the top competitors in his provincial division.
“The horse would sweat a lot and had a hard time breathing,” Serratore was quoted as saying in regard to this past summer.
Serratore knows that the connections of Zorgwijk Kingpin are lucky that the three-year-old has a shot at the division's $300,000 Saturday. "We got a break," he said.
“We were in 15th place (in the OSS Gold points standings) and only the top 10 qualify, but the horses in front of her were either tired or broke down so they decided not to race. We made it as the 10th qualifier.”
Super Final night has seen its fair share of upsets in the past, so Serratore feels that there is no reason that his charge can't join the club.
“Maybe it’s karma. Maybe all this was a blessing in disguise,” he was quoted as saying. “The horse is starting to race well and hopefully we can surprise.”
(With files from the London Free Press)
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