After capturing the Upper Canada Cup with Haul Away Saturday at Georgian Downs, driver Tim Tetrick found himself right back in the winner’s circle with the
$115,500 Honourable Earl Rowe Memorial Cup winner Buck I St Pat.
Buck I St Pat fired off the gate from Post 7 and was at the first quarter in :28.2. As the even-money favourite headed to the half in :58.3, a parked out Armbro Chronicle (Mike Saftic) made a break and eventually pulled up.
Buck I St Pat continued to lead to three-quarters in 1:27 and unleashed a :27.4 final frame to demolish her rivals by seven lengths in 1:54.4. The 32-1 longshot Sand Wyndham (Mario Baillargeon) was the runner-up and Bank President (Trevor Ritchie) rounded out the top three.
Buck I St Pat paid $4.10 to win. The seven-year-old daughter of Jailhouse Jesse-Name It Something is trained by Ron Burke for owners Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen and Ron Fuller.
"Howard found her as a two-year-old in Ohio, and we've been racing her now through her seven-year-old season," said Gold in a post-race interview with Chris Roberts. "Hopefully she stays healthy, and we'll continue to do that.
“You can read the program and in fact your announcer read the program and kind of picked against her because they expected her to be five or six or seven lengths back but as Timmy does, the master that he is, he put himself in the proper position. She can do it from anywhere, she’s been on the lead. She likes to come from behind but we can do it from the front if we have to.
“I’d like to thank Ronnie Burke and his team, they have done a great job, and Timmy of course for driving her since she’s been a baby. And Dave Palone by the way, who also drove her on a number of occasions as a two and three-year-old and when Timmy can’t make it fills in," continued Gold. "Everybody’s done a great job, it’s a great partnership. We’ve had a great time and you’ve got a great racetrack here and we thank you for your hospitality."
The victory was Buck I St Pat's third in four 2010 starts and pushed her earnings to $93,590. Lifetime, she has won 43 times and has banked over $1.5 million.
Also featured on the Upper Canada Cup undercard was $50,000 consolation and a trio of Preferred events, which produced a few surprises for the betting public.
North America Cup eligible Code Word rallied from third over and kicked home in :28.1 to win the Upper Canada Cup consolation by three lengths in 1:51.4, also with Tetrick. Pacesetter Mach Dreamer (Sylvain Filion) was the runner-up and the winner’s co-favoured entrymate What The Sheik (Jody Jamieson) finished third after his first over journey.
Code Word, who made a costly break in his UCC elimination and finished fifth, won two of his 13 starts at two including the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final and earned $201,090. Kevin O’Reilly trains the son of Western Terror-Numberone Treasure for John Carver of Moline, Illinois and John Fielding of Toronto, ON.
Tetrick also guided Big Bam Ray to victory in the $30,000 Preferred Pace. The 9-1 fourth choice kicked home in :28-seconds to wear down pacesetter Balanchine (Mario Baillargeon). The winning time was 1:52.2 and the margin of victory three-quarters of a length. Rave On (Jody Jamieson) finished third. The five-year-old son of Yankee Cam-Sheshore is trained by Rene Allard, who shares ownership with Simon Allard of Hamilton, John Nother of Brampton and Jeff Rusnak of Lasalle,ON.
With regular reinsman Jonathan Drury in the bike for trainer Norm Jones, Countess Stormont went wire-to-wire to win the $30,000 Preferred Trot for fillies and mares in 1:55.2. Sent postward as the 7-1 sixth choice, the five-year-old homebred daughter of Kadabra-Lady Orbitex, who is owned by Stormont Meadows of Long Sault, ON, held off a quick-closing Mystical Starlight (Mike Langdon) by a neck with favourite Canaco Runner finishing back in third.
Overlooked at odds of 18-1, Adam T rallied from third over to pick up his third consecutive victory in the matching Preferred Trot for horses and geldings with trainer Shane Weber in the sulky for owners Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin of St. Catharines, ON. The margin of victory was 2-1/2 lengths for the homebred eight-year-old son of Angus Hall-Cool Reins, who bested Celebrity Hercules (Jody Jamieson), Urban Rainforest (Robert Shepherd) and the streaking All Cantab (Trevor Ritchie).
For a recap and replay of the $472,500 Upper Canada Cup, click here.
To view Saturday's results, click here.