Trainer Kevin Hildebrandt and driver Nathan Sobey teamed up with Sams Jizzy Jet to kick off The Track On 2 meet with a bang and the duo continued to dominate the Opening Day's harness racing action on Sunday, June 23.
Hildebrandt kicked off a training triple on the eight-race card with Sams Jizzy Jet in the opener as the maiden-breaking sophomore came from off-the-pace to prevail in 1:58.4 by half a length over Happy Little Lill, Lifesabouttogetgood and favourite Downwiththesandman. Winning his 10th career start for Hildebrandt and co-owner Katie MacLennan, the Toucam Sam gelding pulled off the big 17-1 upset and returned $37.70 for a $2 win ticket.
Hildebrandt's next starter was his homebred four-year-old Andreoli Hanover mare, AK Black Badger ($6.60), who equalled her lifetime mark of 1:57.3 in the third race when she prevailed by a quarter-length over race leader Alpine Billy with favoured Vanyla Beanz third. Hildebrandt's leasee Ima Moma Boy ($15.90) was up next in race five for the Manitoba horseman and the seven-year-old Vertical Horizon gelding collared popular pacesetter Promising Flight in 1:56.3. Sobey also drove that pair.
Sobey won four of the first five races, with his streak interrupted by Track On 2's defending driving and training champion Dave Kelly in the $5,300 featured conditioned pace when Lunch Pail Guy ($4) rallied three-wide off cover into the stretch and emerged victorious as the five-horse field spread across the track in a sprint to the finish. Sent postward as the even-money favourite, Lunch Pail Guy prevailed in a career-best 1:56.1 by half a length over outside closers Avas Baby Angel and Outlawstaythecourse. The four-year-old gelded son of Santanna Blue Chip is owned by Kelly, Paul MacDonald and Randy Smith.
Live harness racing continues at Track On 2 next Saturday, June 29 with post time set for 4:15 p.m.
Racing will then be held every Sunday until the meet finale on Sept. 15, with Friday and Saturday cards added for the first two weeks in September. Post time will be 1:10 p.m. for all cards except the two Fridays in September when racing starts at 4:15 p.m. Click here to view the full race date calendar.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - The Track On 2.
(Standardbred Canada)