Undefeated as a freshman, Primary Purpose is only two days away from his three-year-old debut and trainer Rod Therres says his first few starts will be crucial in deciding how his sophomore campaign will play out
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Therres’ Cammibest colt, who recorded seven victories good for over $64,000 in 2008, spent the winter at his father’s farm located five miles North of Fraser Downs in Port Kells, B.C. and returned to action on January 20th.
“I qualified him twice. The first time just slow in 1:59.3. The second time a little faster in 1:58.3 with the last quarter in :27.4,” Therres told Trot Insider.
“He will race Saturday then he races in the eliminations for the Sandown Plate here and hopefully in the final on April 3rd. Then I want to fly him out to Toronto.”
Therres says while Primary Purpose is eligible for the North America Cup, the Confederation Cup, the Upper Canada Cup as well as the Ontario Sires Stakes he hasn’t bought a plane ticket just yet.
This Saturday, Paul MacDonell is listed to drive Primary Purpose during his visit to B.C. for the National Driving Championship. Therres is hoping MacDonell can provide him with a little insight on whether Primary Purpose has what it takes to compete in Ontario.
“If he doesn’t pace in 1:53 or 1:54 here in the Sandown Plate I won’t send him. I’ll probably just race him here a little bit and turn him out in the summer and bring him back in the fall. Just here in Western Canada between October 1st and December 15th he has over $300,000 to go for, which is a lot.
“It all depends on how he races in the next three weeks whether he gets on the plane or not. He’s going to have to keep winning and keep going fast. This track is very, very fast in the spring so he’s going to have to do something pretty impressive to get on the plane. And he’s been impressive - 1:56.1 on this track in the winter as a two-year-old is like 1:53 anywhere else. So we have to wait and see and keep our fingers crossed.
Therres says if all goes according to plan, he will likely send Primary Purpose to B.C. native Casie Coleman in Ontario before potentially heading there himself in May.
“If we do send him to Toronto its going to cost quite a bit of money and it’s a good thing I’ve got a good partner,” says Therres of co-owner Charles MacFarlane, an 81-year-old resident of Victoria. “He’s a great partner and we’re hoping we can get it done. It’s been quite a ride for him and his wife, Elizabeth.”
Plans for his other stable star, Royal Morn, are also tentative at this time. Therres says the four-year-old Usher Hanover gelding hurt himself in a race on March 8.
While Royal Morn is getting better, Therres says he hasn’t isolated the root of the problem so the winner of 15 races and $231,032 will have the next week or two off.
“We’ll see how he comes along. I have to get him right again. He’s got one stake here in May, which I wasn’t going to stick around for but I might now. The plans keep changing in this business. So if I stick around for this race and he’s alright, I have him paid into the Molson Cup and the Des Smith.”
With a few options available, Therres could have another top training season ahead of him. Last year, the 44-year-old horseman had a career best season for money earning over $300,000. Presently, he only needs one more win to reach 500. And his accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. This past weekend, Therres took home seven BCSBS/BCSA Awards.
Therres himself was named Horseperson of the Year, Primary Purpose was named the Two-Year-Old Colt of the Year while Royal Morn took the three-year-old title and was the co-winner of the BCSA award for Outstanding Performance. In addition, Therres’ Dal Reo Damsel was named Broodmare of the Year. Therres and MacFarlane also paired up to win the Breeder of the Year and Standardbred Canada Owner of the Year awards.
“I haven’t slept since then,” he laughs. “I’m very, very overwhelmed. It’s a great honour. I just run a small stable. There are bigger stables that have done better over the year that are probably just as worthy but they gave it to a small guy, which was pretty cool and that actually gives other people hope - they don’t have to have a huge barn to win. But I haven’t slept good for a few days. I’m thinking what’s next? Toronto or a repeat [of 2008]?
“The horses will tell me what’s going to happen. You know I think about it 24-7 and in the end they’re going to tell me what the plan is.”