![camshaft23.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/headline_image_1024_x_577/public/camshaft23.jpg?itok=Z_ur2hb7)
Laguna Beach laid down wild fractions in Thursday evening’s $40,000 final of the Sportsnet NY Series at the Meadowlands, and that set it up perfectly for Camshaft Hanover.
The Dave Pinkney, Jr.-trainee got the job done for owner Ian Smith of Charlottetown, PEI, who had to sweat out a few anxious moments around the final turn before breathing a sigh of relief when the four-year-old son of Artiscape crossed the line first and pulled off the 10-1 upset.
Camshaft Hanover was allowed to settle into a mid-pack position in the early part of the mile while Laguna Beach threw down wicked splits of :26.4 and :53.4. George Brennan made a bold move around the final turn with Camshaft Hanover, and despite getting steppy, the ridgling found himself in a three-wide battle with Laguna Beach and Oliver Cleo at the three-quarter pole in 1:21.4.
Brennan settled his charge into a better stride when they hit the straightaway, and Camshaft Hanover used a :28.3 final frame to post the half-length decision over Oliver Cleo, who was sent off as the 7-5 favourite. Thanks For Stoppin closed well to finish three-quarters of a length back in third.
“He gets a little bumpy [gaited],” Brennan noted of Camshaft Hanover. “He’s got a couple of issues with his feet, but [trainer David Pinkney Jr.] took care of it. He was better than last week. He was putting in a couple of steps on the turn, but he took off in the stretch real good. He’ll do that - get bumpy and almost run - but he gets that pace [gait] in. I just got lucky enough he landed on the pace. The leaders were tiring, and he paced good to the wire.”
The victory was the third in 11 starts this season for Camshaft Hanover, who finished fifth in the opening leg of the series and eighth in last week’s second leg assignment. The 10-time winner upped his lifetime earnings to $163,755 with the win.
(With quotes from the Meadowlands)
To view Thursday’s results, click here.