It was less than a year ago, on May 23, 2008 that millionaire pacer Tigerama stepped to the fastest mile in over 47 years of history at Western Fair Raceway in 1:50.4.
The 62-time career winner returns to the London track for the first time since last year's Molson Pace final for an appearance from Post 4 in the twelfth race $18,400 Preferred Pace on the Monday afternoon program.
“The first thing I did was give him some down time at the farm,” says trainer Paul Taylor. He takes over management of Bob Hamather’s homebred and follows Casie Coleman, Bill Elliott and Rich Griffiths in the succession of conditioners the nine-year-old Village Jiffy pacer has had over his illustrious career. “The goal right now is getting him back to feeling like his old self.”
Hamather, of Exeter ON, told London sportscaster Pete James earlier in February on CJBK 1290's Track Talk show that a stallion career was under consideration for Tigerama, but only after more racing action. Tigerama becomes the second millionaire performer that Taylor has had through his barn based in Clinton, ON. The first was Armbro Proposal.
“This is a whole different situation,” Taylor says. “By the time I got Armbro Proposal he was on the downside of his career and was in claiming races. Richie Banca came up and claimed him at Hanover Raceway in the Summer of 2004 for $5,000. Tigerama hasn’t shown us yet that he’s completely past his prime. He got a conservative trip at Windsor in his comeback on February 8 and hopefully we can keep building on that.”
Though he’s been installed as the 2-1 morning line favourite on Monday at Western Fair it’s no pushover assignment for Tigerama. In the field of eight sturdy veterans he’ll have to be better than Southwestern Ontario stalwarts Must Be Matt, XLB Patrick, Grand Bend Turbo and Oakley Seelster to take down his 63rd career win.
Lookettepoedunk’s Sister Now In Ontario
The second race on the Tuesday afternoon program at Western Fair will feature a mare with an Ohio pedigree that's well known in Ontario .
Lookettejiklepuice, a four-year-old Look Sharp full sister to $607,000 winner Lookettepoedunk will make her debut from the care of trainer Daryl Roberts and for owner Rasa Roberts of London, ON .
“I heard she was for sale and I went down to Lebanon Raceway in Ohio right after their Boxing Day program and we made the deal with (previous owner) Laura Jordan,” Daryl Roberts says. “Her older sister, Lookettepoedunk, was really well known here in Ontario because she raced so well against the toughest mares. This mare gets around a half mile track just great.
“The hope is she can work her way up through the non-winners classes since he has just over $8,000 on her card,” he added. “If that doesn’t work then we have the option of the restricted claiming races here too. It was a fifteen hour round trip to go to Ohio and get her. Though she hasn’t raced for us yet she’s given us reason to think she is well worth it.”
In Tuesday afternoon’s second race Lookettejiklepuice has drawn Post 5 and a 10-1 morning line rating. The 5-2 morning line favourite is a last time winner in Post 2, Tommi Bahama.
Stakes Nomination Deadline Is Tuesday
The nomination date for Western Fair Raceway’s top pair of marquee events in 2009 has been pushed back to Tuesday, February 17. The customary date of February 15 fell on a Sunday and February 16 is a holiday.
The nomination fee for the 2009 Molson Pace is $1,000. The $25,000 eliminations for the track’s signature Free For All event will be held on May 22 and the final is set for May 29. Last year, the Molson Pace final carried a purse of $280,000 as the richest single race in the track’s 47 year history.
The nomination fee for the inaugural Forest City Filly and Mare Open Pace is $750. The $18,000 eliminations will be held on October 10 and the $150,000 added final is set for October 17.
Click here to download Western Fair’s nomination forms.
Awards Banquet Set For Saturday
The 31st Annual Western Fair Raceway Awards Banquet is set for Saturday evening February 21 in the Carousel Room at Western Fair. Social hour starts at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. preceding the awards and dancing.
Tickets at $35 per person will be available at the door while supplies last or by calling Raceway promotions manager Jan White at 1.800.619.4629 Ext. 320.
Through June, post time at Western Fair each Monday and Tuesday afternoon is at 3:35 p.m. and each Friday evening at 7:05 p.m.
(Western Fair Raceway)