Capitalizing on a hot early pace, Mercutio captured the finale on Saturday, May 24 at Flamboro Downs and established a new Canadian record in the process.
Mercutio went postward as the 1-4 choice in a $9,500 conditioned trot at Flamboro against eight rivals. Scott Young settled the six-year-old son of Bar Hopping - Frisky Magic into fourth from post four as Treasured Tee (Austin Sorrie) hammered out a hot tempo on top. After a :27.2 opener and :55.4 half, Young gave Mercutio his cue and started a first-over journey. Treasured Tee didn't have an answer for Mercutio after the 1:25.1 third stanza, allowing Young to land on the lead heading into the final turn. Once down to the rail, Mercutio bid adieu to his competition. A :29.3 final quarter sealed the deal on a 1:55 scorcher, more than five lengths the best. Goodashim (Scott Coulter) was not quite as good as Mercutio, closing to nab the place position with Treasured Tee just back in third.
The time of the mile isn't as fast as the 1:54 effort from older trotting gelding Charlie Is A Joker over Flamboro, but it does eclipse the 1:56.1 mark for older trotting horses previously held by Speed Bomb and Tymal Riggs. Prior to Saturday, the fastest older trotting horse on a Canadian half-mile track was Partyatyourplace by virtue of his 1:55.2 mile over Grand River Raceway in 2012.
Shane Arsenault trains and owns Mercutio, now a 16-time winner with more than $205,000 in career purse earnings.
For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing outside of Hamilton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Mercutio from a previous win)