While most of this year's Camluck Classic participants will ship into London, Ont. from across North America, Jody and Stephanie Jamieson have high hopes for their locally-based Sintra in Friday night's (May 31) $157,000 event at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
"We're hoping to have a big year with this guy," driver Jody Jamieson told CTV News in an interview which aired Tuesday. "It doesn't matter what field or what size racetrack, his chances are high."
Sintra, who has won 24 races and banked over $1.1 million, was victorious in his lone start to date over the London oval, posting a commanding 1:52.4 victory a $70,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event as a three-year-old in May of 2016. Jamieson was at the helm then as well.
Since Kelly Waxman, Nunzio Vena and Frank Cirillo joined Michael Guerriero in Sintra's ownership group at the beginning of April, the six-year-old Mach Three gelding posted two wins in three starts against Preferred company at Woodbine Mohawk Park. In his April 27 debut effort for trainer Stephanie Jamieson, Sintra posted a 1:50.1 victory over Maroma Beach, edging clear late by 3-1/4 lengths.
Sintra, the 3-1 morning-line third choice, lines up from post 5 in the eight-horse Camluck Classic field, filled with newcomers save for one competitor.
"There are a lot of new faces and the only one coming back is defending champ Rockin Ron," said Greg Blanchard, director of racing at The Raceway. Rockin Ron, one of two Ron Burke trainees in the race, will start in the second row from post 8 with Louis-Philippe Roy aboard, while stablemate Done Well and driver Dexter Dunn have been named the 7-5 morning line favourite from post 2.
The Camluck Classic serves as the finale of a 12-race card which also features the City of London finals and a full complement of Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots events for three-year-old pacing fillies.
To view Friday's entries and program pages courtesy TrackIT, click the following links: Entries | Program Pages.
(with files from CTV News)