Announcer Ken Middleton said it best: "North America, meet Highland Kismet!"
Highland Kismet ($2.90), with Bob McClure in the race bike, stamped himself as a superstar-in-the-making courtesy of a stupendous score in the $225,000 Goodtimes Stakes on Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Sent on his way as the 2-5 choice in the Goodtimes, Highland Kismet arrived at his latest test off a polished 1-3/4 length winning performance in his elimination last week at the Milton oval.
On this night, he took things to a whole new level.
It was an early scramble as Top Mast (Sylvain Filion), Private Access (Louis-Philippe Roy), and Shermont (Trevor Henry) battled into the first turn, while Highland Kismet was fanned nearly four wide.
Top Mast led the pack through an opening panel in :27.2, but Highland Kismet, in fourth, was given his cue by McClure and the son of Father Patrick responded by seizing command shortly before the half in :55.3.
Private Access, the second choice on the board at 6-1, came calling on the leader soon after and then turned up the pressure into the turn for home.
Highland Kismet, a neck on top after three quarters in 1:24.4, fended off his foe and then strolled away from his pursuers with ease down the lane.
McClure sat chilly in the sulky as the bay colt stormed home in :26.4 to post a 3-1/4 length win over Private Access. Top Mast was third. The final time was a stakes-equalling and personal-best mark of 1:51.3.
"He's two fingers to drive,” said McClure. “You can start him up, shut him down. I didn't mind. I was fully intending to half-miss the gate because I knew all the outside speed was going to be pushing so I wasn't worried about them dropping in front of me.
“This colt, super, super stepped up, and I couldn't believe how big a kick he had coming home, and how easy he did it, and how great he's been.”
Unraced at two, the Mark Etsell trainee was a two-length winner in 1:54.4 in his May 2 debut. Scratched out of his next start, Highland Kismet returned on May 23, just missing top spot by a head.
One week later, he was back on the winning track courtesy of a 1:53.1 victory, winning by more than five lengths
"He’s come a long way quick,” said Etsell. “He's been a bit of a surprise, actually.”
Added McClure, “He was a real troubled two-year-old. He had a lot of trouble with his gait, and you wouldn't know it now with the job that Mark has done with him. He's perfect.”
Bred and owned by Highland Thoroughbred Farm of Inglewood, Ont., Highland Kismet (Father Patrick - Highland Top Hill) is eligible for the 2024 Hambletonian. Mark Etsell, the 2023 O'Brien Award of Horsemanship winner, handles the training on Highland Kismet, whose summary reads 4-1-0 in five outings with $149,500 in earnings. The stakes record was set in 2014 by Trixton — that year's Hambletonian winner.
The race presentation was made by John Bax, who campaigned world champion and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Goodtimes to a 50-win career and over $2.2 million in lifetime earnings.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(with files from Woodbine)