Grand Circuit racing continues on Monday evening at Mohawk Racetrack as the Miss Versatility returns to the Campbellville, Ont. oval featuring North America’s top aged trotting mares, including one late-bloomer that could be "due to go a big mile very soon."
Ontario Sires Stakes graduate Smarty Pants will face off in the first of two divisions for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Per Henriksen.
The daughter of Kadabra is fresh off a fifth-place finish in the Armbro Flight final on June 15 at the Campbellville oval.
"She raced very well in the Armbro Flight,” Henriksen said. “She's just four-year-old old taking on older and more experienced horses. I think next year will be her year because she will be that much older."
The bay hasn’t been on top of her game early this season, being winless from 10 starts, but that’s something Henriksen is accustomed to with the Smarty Pants.
"She has a history of blooming late in the year and needs time,” he said. “She did it as a two-year-old then again last season when she won the [OSS] Super Final. Some horses just need a few starts to find their game, but she appears to need more time than most.”
The Norwood, Ont. resident purchased Smarty Pants as a yearling in 2010 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale with partners Dr. Brett Anderson, Stan Klemencic and Henriksen’s Asa Farm.
The connections have celebrated six career wins with Smarty Pants along with $345,451 in purse earnings.
Last season alone, Smarty Pants banked $305,836 with a 4-5-3 record from 19 starts.
"I really think we haven't seen the best of her,” Henriksen said. “She's got a lot of class to her and really enjoys her work. She's very versatile. She really gets off the gate if she needs to or she can come from behind, or both."
Henriksen, a native of Norway, has elected to race Smarty Pants on both sides of the border this season.
"She'll travel around for the Miss Versatility Series and she has a few other races for mares. We'll play it week-to-week with her. She's a good sized mare with a terrific gait and if history repeats itself, she'll be due to go a big mile very soon."
Two $30,000 divisions will take place on Monday evening and will line up as follows:
Race 2
1. Bax Of Life
2. One More Ginny
3. Beatgoeson Hanover
4. Daylon Miracle
5. Maven
6. Smarty Pants
Race 11
1. Dorsay
2. Real Babe
3. Personal Style
4. China Pearls
5. Cedar Dove
6. Pembroke Heat Wave
7. Intense America
To view Monday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Monday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)