Prospects connected to former National Hockey League player and current Ontario Hockey League coach Dale Hunter were making headlines on both sides of the border this weekend, in hockey and in harness racing.
Two of Hunter's players from the London Knights' 2023-2024 roster were taken in the first round of the National Hockey League entry draft on Friday, June 28 in Las Vegas, Nv. Knights' defenseman Sam Dickinson was taken 11th overall by the San Jose Sharks, and right winger Sam O'Reilly was selected 32nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers to conclude the first round.
On Saturday, June 29 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, before the second round of the draft commenced, Hunter had another prospect in the spotlight as pacing colt Crack Shot clocking the fastest time among the rookies qualifying in the Saturday session of baby races.
A 2:00.4 winner over Grand River in his debut on June 19, Crack Shot navigated the sloppy surface at Mohawk on Saturday with relative ease. After Doug McNair kept the colt wide through the opening turn, Crack Shot kept plugging away and eventually cleared to the lead by the three-eighths mark. After panels of :59.4 and 1:29.4, Crack Shot sprinted home in :28.1 under minimal urging for the 1:58 decision over Boyd Bay (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Wicked Weston (Tyler Borth).
Crack Shot is a son of Bettors Delight from the Somebeachsomewhere mare Beautyonthebeach. Hunter co-owns the colt, a $205,000 Lexington yearling bred by Jim Avritt, along with trainer Gregg McNair, Frank Brundle of East Garafraxa and George Kerr of Gowanstown, Ont.
Landing On Time was the most impressive and fleetest trotter of the morning, a 13-length winner for trainer-driver Rick Zeron in 2:00.4. Little Arrow (Travis Cullen) was next best in the three-horse field, one of many dashes reduced due to scratches.
A $80,000 Lexington yearling bred by Greenfield, Creps and Frank of Ohio, Landing On Time (Tactical Landing - Courtney Hanover) is owned by Zeron Marvento Stable of Oakville, Jim Walker of Port Perry, Ont., Robert Cooper Stables LLC of ,Boca Raton, Fl. and Mitchell Friesen of Gladwyne, Pa.
The full qualifying session is available below.
For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).
(Standardbred Canada)