After making a disappointing 2012 debut and then being forced to requalify, Daylon Magician got his act together and turned in a dominant performance in his second start of the season on Monday at Woodbine Racetrack
.
The O’Brien Award-winning four-year-old son of Kadabra-Daylon Marvel made a powerful move to the lead in the early stages of Monday’s $38,000 Preferred assignment, and after clearing to the top the Dave Lemon-trained homebred motored to a career-best clocking of 1:52. The performance shaved one-fifth of a second off Dr Ronerail's former track standard of 1:52.1 for an older trotting horse.
Daylon Magician floated off the starting gate and tucked into an early five-hole for driver Jack Moiseyev, who watched Kashs Kaviar and Tall Cotton battle to the quarter pole in :26.4 before the latter was released to the lead. Moiseyev summoned up top speed from Daylon Magician in the backstretch, and in a matter of strides that tandem was on the point. Daylon Magician zipped through middle intervals of :56 and 1:24.4 before uncorking a :27.1 final frame en route to the 8-1/2 length score over Bullet. Imminent Response rallied to finish third.
“The last time I raced him I rushed him out of the gate a little bit and he made a break, but I left out of there with him tonight and he was hitting on all eight [cylinders],” said driver Jack Moiseyev.
Daylon Farms Ltd of Komoka, ON owns the 15-time winner, who enjoyed an 11-for-17 season in 2011. Last year’s Canadian Trotting Classic champ pushed his lifetime earnings to $1,315,613 with the victory.
Monday’s card also saw a number of Pepsi North America Cup eligibles in action, including Adkins Hanover who front-stepped to a 1:52.3 maiden-breaker for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Dustin Jones.
The son of Western Ideal-Allamerican Nadia, who is listed at odds of 75-1 in Trot Magazine's Spring Book, parked past the quarter pole in :26.2 before finding the front. Once he cleared he led the field through fractions of :55.3 and 1:24.2 before using a :28.1 closing panel to seal the deal.
Sent off as the even-money favourite, Adkins Hanover improved his lifetime record to 1-2-1 from nine tries for Ecurie Synergie of Montreal, QC. The colt has banked $22,860 to date.
Thinking Out Loud, who is 45-1 in the Spring Book, won for the second week-in-a-row for the duo of driver Randy Waples and trainer Bob McIntosh.
The three-year-old son of Ponder-Los Angeles took over command shortly past the mid-way point in :56 and proceeded to lead his foes by the three-quarter marker in 1:23.3. A :27.1 closing panel was tacked on for good measure by the colt, who drew clear to win by 3-3/4 lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:50.4.
After going 3-for-4 as a rookie, the sophomore is 2-for-2 this season for the Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. He’s stashed away close to $70,000 in lifetime earnings.
Special Blend, who is listed at 60-1 in the Spring Book, turned a second-over trip into a 1:52.3 tally for driver Jody Jamieson in a $19,000 conditioned assignment. The victory was the first of the season in three tries for the Ben Wallace-trained son of The Panderosa-Tallulah Belle.
Jamieson got away fifth with his charge, before tipping off the rail and tracking cover through middle intervals of :56.4 and 1:25.1. The colt flipped off his cover turning for home and then proceeded to use his :27-second closing speed to win by nearly a pair of lengths.
Big Als Stables Inc of Woodbridge, ON owns the lightly-raced youngster, who is now 2-for-11 in his career. The full-brother to the 2004 NA Cup runner-up, Metropolitan, has banked $94,825 in his career.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.