Miles in the 1:52 range are few and far between in the month of February when you talk trotters, but someone forgot to mention that to Etruscan Hanover.
The class-dropping gelding ripped off a 1:52.4 mile in an $18,000 conditioned event Monday evening at Woodbine Racetrack – a feat that goes down as a national season’s record.
Etruscan Hanover got away fourth for driver Mario Baillargeon, who sent his charge to the outside just as the field entered the backstretch. Pop I cut the opening quarter in :27.1, but Etruscan Hanover muscled his way to the lead and hammered out middle splits of :56 and 1:23.4 before finishing them off with a :29-second closing quarter. Buzz was next best, with third prize going to Jangone.
Trainer Ben Baillargeon co-owns the eight-year-old son of Donato Hanover-Exotic Destination with partners Claude Hamel and the Venas - Santo and Nunzio. The victory was the first of the season – and the 25th lifetime tally – for the career winner of $388,185.
Woodbine Jackpot Hi-5 hit for $70,141.11 (USD)
Just a single ticket was able to correctly hit the Jackpot Hi-5 in Monday’s final race at Woodbine Racetrack for a score of $70,141.11 (USD).
Seven-year-old gelding Jefferson Tare and driver James MacDonald came through in Monday’s final race, an $8,000 to $10,000 claiming event for pacers, at odds of 5/2.
The winner was followed across the wire by a quartet of longshots, including a 99-1 shot in third, to round out the top-five finishers. Race-favourite Mybrothergeorge (even-money) finished ninth.
Only one Hi-5 ticket wagered Monday had the combination of 6-2-8-3-10 to takedown the entire Jackpot of $70,141.11 (USD).
The winning ticket cost $4,300.80 (USD) and was wagered by a customer in the Arlington Hub. The ticket was constructed as follows:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9/1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10/ALL/ALL/ALL
Here are the top-five finishers from Monday’s Jackpot Hi-5 race.
1st: #6 Jefferson Tare (James MacDonald) 5/2
2nd: #2 HP Black Shadow (Sylvain Filion) 17/1
3rd: #8 Casimir Nunzio (Richard Simard) 99/1
4th: #3 Clever Thing (Bob McClure) 13/1
5th: #10 Mcsinner Man (Jonathan Drury) 89/1
The carryover entering Monday evening’s card was $68,165.65 and horseplayers wagered $23,778 into the Jackpot Hi-5 pool.
The Jackpot Hi-5 wager requires horseplayers to select the top-five finishers in order. The wager features a $0.20 minimum and a low takeout of 15 per cent.
The Hi-5 will now start from scratch on Thursday evening’s card of racing. Post time is 7:10 p.m.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.