Air Guitar Hanover will make her Canadian debut in the opening round of the inaugural edition of the Blossom Pacing Series on Monday evening at Woodbine Racetrack
.
While racing at Harrah’s Chester, The Meadows, Meadowlands Racetrack and Tioga Downs, the daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Armbro Amoretto crafted a career record of 3-2-2 in 10 outings while earning $46,295 for Stake Your Claim Stable and Seth Coen, who purchased the bay for $57,000 at the 2010 Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Trainer Linda Toscano believes the pacing miss will adapt quickly to competing at the Toronto oval.
“I think that she is well-suited for that track [Woodbine],” said the New Jersey resident. “She kind of takes her track with her. No racetrack has affected her yet, so I don’t anticipate a problem.”
The filly has yet to miss the board four starts into her three-year-old campaign, winning her latest at Chester and earning two seconds and a third in the Meadowlands' Tender Loving Care Series for a seasonal bankroll of $22,375.
Toscano has received nothing but positive feedback from those who have partnered with Air Guitar Hanover.
“All the drivers have commented to me that she is a very easy horse to drive,” Toscano offered. “She is an easy horse to put into position, so I think any time you have a horse who can manoeuvre a little bit and can get into position, you are always better off than the ones that are difficult.
“She steers well, she has gate speed and yet she will follow cover very nicely,” she continued. “You don’t have to go into the race with a game plan, you can change the plan according to what happens behind the gate. I think that might be her strongest suit, that she can adapt to any situation.”
The conditioner is hoping the best is yet to come for the lightly-raced filly.
“We had to get a little creative with her staking,” said Toscano. “We have given her a chance and I think she will tell us. We have her in some of the smaller stakes and we also paid her into some of the big ones. If she acts like she can handle it, we have places to go.
“She has been just a nice filly this year so far,” she added. “I don’t know what she is, but for now she is honest and good gaited and we are looking forward to racing her.”
With driver Scott Zeron in the bike, Air Guitar Hanover will leave Post 7 in the first of three $20,000 divisions.
The second leg of the Blossom, for three-year-old pacing fillies who are non-winners of three races or $15,000 in 2011, is slated for Thursday, April 5, with the $50,000 final scheduled for Saturday, April 14.
To view Monday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Monday Entries - Woodbine Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)