The trotter named in honour of Dr. Calvin Stiller earned a fast mark on the Wednesday, November 3 program at Pompano Park.
The equine accomplishment was a fitting tribute adding to the incredibly long list of honours bestowed upon one of Canada’s leading medical scientists and pioneers. Dr. Stiller and his wife, Angie, are also prominent standardbred breeders, owners and promoters of harness racing in their travels from their home base at Arva, Ont., just north of London.
In the conditioned, non-winners of six lifetime races tilt, Dr Cal was settled into fourth position on the 'sloppy' track as Rubys Jewell (driven by Richard Simard) hustled through fast fractions of :27.3, :57.1, and 1:27.1. When the leader made a break in stride early in the final turn, Dr Cal was moved to the outside and finally surged to the front in late stretch. He won the photo in a life’s mark of 1:56.1 over an onrushing Super Lotto (Wally Hennessey), with Docs All Class (Marc Major) a close third. It was one of five winners on the night reined in by Bruce Ranger.
Although his achievements in the medical field are far too numerous to list here, Dr. Stiller is a 2010 Inductee into the Canadian Medical Hall Of Fame, the Chair of the Board of the Ontario Institute For Cancer Research, a member of the Order Of Ontario and the Order Of Canada.
The four-year-old Angus Hall gelding was bred by Angie Stiller in tandem with the Robert McIntosh Stables and CSX Stables of Ont. and Ohio. At Pompano, Dr. Cal is now racing from the care of owner Mario Dessureault. The promising trotter has a season’s bankroll of over $33,000 and life’s earnings of almost $69,000.
No Issues For Gale Warning
Rod Lorenzo said it was human scheduling, and not equine, that resulted in a two-week gap in the schedule of his stable’s stalwart, Gale Warning. In fact, the veteran trotter seemed to enjoy the extra rest as he romped home in the $12,000 purse featured trot on the mid-week program at Pompano.
“Some would have been skeptical about him tonight with that two-week interval in his schedule, but that was because of me and not Gale Warning at all,” said the trainer, after the seven-year-old Strong Gale gelding's 11th win in 26 trips this year.
“It was a simple matter of me being up at the sale in Indiana last week and we don’t like to enter him when I’m not here. He’s a really big horse and got over that wet track tonight really great. When (driver) Tom Sells had him at the half in :58.4, I felt pretty certain he’d finish it out on top. He’s won with 14 days or more between starts before and I’m sure he will many more times too before his career is through.”
In the handicap event in which all post positons were assigned, Andover America in rein to Bruce Ranger started outside in the field of seven and got away into fourth position. In the final half Andover America fired up without cover but could not get past the wheel of Gale Warning. McCoy, partnered by Wally Hennessey, had the pocket trip and settled for third.
Next up on Friday night is a featured $12,000 purse event for the top mares in South Florida. First-race post time is 7:05 p.m. (EST) each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening, with Tuesday programs added to the schedule from December through March.
(Pompano)