Trainer Rene Laarman and driver Scott Zeron will hook up Friday, April 22 at Woodbine Racetrack with three-year-old Camluck gelding Billy White Sell, a green horse which appears to be developing for his connections
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After having gone unraced during his freshman season, Billy White Sell's connections left the gelding's path to the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup open by making the initial nominating payment. Any aspirations of 'Cup' glory were dashed when the connections opted against making the March 15 sustaining payment, but at this point Laarman is applying his craft to the developing pacer, and the pupil seems to be responding.
In an interview with the Woodbine Entertainment Group, Laarman explained that he is pleased with the development the gelding has shown, but he is still unsure of what kind of horse he is dealing with.
“He’s progressed well," Laarman told WEG. "He broke his maiden two starts back rather convincingly, we’re still not 100 per cent sure of the type of horse he is and how much quality he has, but we’re going to keep our fingers crossed and hope he continues to improve.”
Billy White Sell (PP3, S. Zeron, 7-2) will take to Woodbine's seven-eighths mile oval Friday for Race 2, a $20,000 elimination for the Ontario Spring Open. The field of six is scheduled to line up behind the gate at roughly 7:50 p.m. Although Laarman may be unsure of what type of horse he has at this point, he explained that he is happy with his charge's post and driver.
“Scott has driven him fairly regularly for his last three starts and he’s done a good job with him. We’ll stick with him,” said Laarman “He drew well, we need a little bit of racing luck and hopefully he ends up with a good trip.”
While discussing the gelding's last start -- an April 12 assignment at Georgian Downs -- Laarman said that Billy White Sell's greenness led to a narrow defeat.
“He ended up being first over for a long time at Georgian, and I believe just because he is so green he got lost first over and maybe he was a little disappointed he got beat,” said Laarman, who also revealed that the gelding did not race at two due to immaturity.
To view entries for Friday's card of harness racing at Woodbine, please click the following link: Friday Entries - Woodbine Racetrack