Weather plays no favourites in harness racing and, while torrential rain pummelled the Northfield Park half-mile oval on Sunday, May 26, Magical Journey, guided by 19-year-old Braiden Rhoades, pummelled his seven foes in winning the $12,055 Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) feature.
The classy eight-year-old Kadabra gelding led every single stride from his five post through fractions of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:28 before holding off the late-charging Stoney Ridgeton, with John Konesky III in the sulky, to win by a length in 1:58.4 over the sloppy track. Walters Keepsake, driven by Larry Ferrari, saving ground in the garden spot all the way through, was another neck back in third while Rose Run Vincent, with Timothy Johnson handling his lines, yet another neck back in fourth. Last week’s winner, Tulsa Bell, starting from the outside eight post, closed fastest of all to pick up the nickel for Eric Miller.
In a post-race interview, when asked about the “magical journey,” he gave his trotter, young Rhoades said, “I have to give this horse all the credit. It was raining cats and dogs during the race but he kept his mind on getting the job done…determined, I’d say!
“He had his nose on the gate and kind of pushed it out of his way and opened daylight going into the first turn.
“Usually here, it might take a little longer but he was very sharp leaving and the only time he felt any pressure was at the top on the lane—and that horse [Manhattanup No Ice] made a break and we held ‘em all off at the wire."
Trained by Rhoades' dad, Bill, for owners the D Racing Stable and Earl Hill Jr., Magical Journey earned his first win of the year in only six starts and sent his career earnings to $380,070.
A former Open trotter, Magical Journey made his first start in GLADA competition and rewarded his faithful with a $13.60 mutuel as the fourth choice in the betting.
Courtesy of the generosity of all GLADA members donating their all driving earnings for charitable distribution, countless worthy organizations ranging from equine aftercare to re-training horses for second careers in therapeutics, among others, have benefitted from their existence.
As GLADA spokesmen Steve Oldford and Larry Ferrari said, “This shows was our club can do for our communities and for our sport. Goodwill is always a winner!”
(With files from GLADA)