To borrow a phrase made popular by Stone Cold Steve Austin, Tin Can Timmy opened up a can of whoop-ass on his rivals in the $13,000 Preferred 2 Pace at Century Downs on Saturday, April 26.
Stepping up in class after a solid 1:53.2 score one week ago, Tin Can Timmy was one of three horses that received the majority of public interest and support in Saturday's feature. Starting from the pylons, Tin Can Timmy went postward as the 5-2 second choice. Post four starter Mercedes looked best to the horseplayers, going off at 9-5 odds while Midnight Mover, the outermost starter in post eight, was the 9-2 third choice. In the field of nine, those three horses were the only horses with single-digit odds.
Credit to the handicappers: that threesome did, in fact, comprise the horses on the triactor ticket...just not quite in that order.
As the wings of the gate folded, David Kelly asked Tin Can Timmy for early speed and that quick burst forced Brandon Campbell to pump the brakes on Mercedes and drop the favourite into the two hole. From post eight, Nathan Sobey had fewer options with Midnight Mover and chose to press the pace in the same way he did one week ago while facing the apex predator of Wild Rose Country, Shark Week.
On paper, that strategy made sense. And if it could almost work against Shark Week, surely it had a better chance for success against Tin Can Timmy.
Tin Can Timmy had other ideas. Handling the heavy lifting on the front through fractions of :27.1, :55.2 and 1:23.4 while under pressure, Tin Can Timmy and Kelly were as cool as ice, ice baby. Not only did Tin Can Timmy survive, he thrived on the challenge. With a :29 closer, Tin Can Timmy pulled away from his rivals to win by more than two lengths in a time of 1:52.4. Full marks as well to Midnight Mover, who stayed for second. Mercedes couldn't capitalize on that front-end duel, finishing third.
A five-year-old son of BJs Bequia - Free Tunes, Tin Can Timmy picked up his 13th career win in his 65th career start to lift his lifetime earnings to $133,765. Kelly also trains and co-owns Tin Can Timmy along with Mike Dicks of Parkland County, Alta. and Josh MacDonald of Little Pond, P.E.I. As the 5-2 second choice, he returned $7.20 to win.
For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing outside of Calgary, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)