The opening leg of the General Brock Trotting Series went postward in the form of four divisions on Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, and it is a night that trainer Ira Fisher and owner Ely Iversen will remember
for a long time.
That duo clicked to win three of the four $20,000 divisions thanks to top shelf performances from HP Forte, Minor Supernover and Save My Ashes.
HP Forte pulled off a 19-1 shocker in the opening division for driver Mark MacDonald, who engineered the front-stepping score in a time of 1:58.2.
MacDonald was parked to the quarter pole in :29.1 before taking the top and carving out middle fractions of :58.2 and 1:27.4 with his charge. A :30.2 closing panel is all it took for the four-year-old son of Muscles Yankee to defeat Long Ago and Boys O Boys.
It was the first win of the season and fifth lifetime tally for the career winner of $81,088.
Iversen and Fisher were back for a second helping of the winner’s circle just two races later thanks a 1:58.3 tally with Minor Supernover.
Chris Christoforou closed from out of the clouds with the four-year-old son of Andover Hall, who pulled off the 9-1 upset over Ziegler Hanover, who was sent off as the 6-5 favourite. Rockin To Do rounded out the top three.
It was a winning 2009 debut for the three-time winner, who earned a lifetime mark in the process. The $10,000 payday bumped his career bankroll to $56,022.
Save My Ashes delivered as the 9-5 favourite in his division, thus completing the hat trick for the duo of Iversen and Fisher. They owe a great deal of gratitude to Chris Christoforou, who gave the four-year-old son of Andover Hall a cerebral steer.
Christoforou worked out a ground-saving trip for the six-time winner, who found a seam in deep stretch en route to notching a narrow win over Southwind Rew and Were Rolling. Time for the mile was 1:58.3.
It was the first win in six tries this season for Save My Ashes, who has manufactured a $91,520 cash stash in his career.
Mr Go went coast-to-coast at odds of 13-1 in the other division for driver Mike Saftic. The four-year-old son of Armbro Ricochet halted the teletimer in 1:59.
The roan gelding sliced out splits of :30, :59.2 and 1:27.1 before plodding home in :31.4 to hold off race favourite Society Kad by a neck. Wildcat Shoes completed the Triactor ticket.
Trained by Greg Johnson, who owns the trotter with George Johnson of Milton, ON, watched the five-time winner get to the winner’s circle for the first time this season in five attempts. He has potted $54,465 in lifetime earnings.
Round two of the General Brock Trotting Series is scheduled for next Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, with the $50,000 (est.) final slated for Thursday, March 5.
To view Thursday’s results, click here.