The Stable that God Loves is moving into high gear and chalking up some impressive numbers at Canadian and U.S. racetracks, and picking up some added exposure along the way.
Stable star Luck Be Withyou celebrated July 4th with a hard-fought nose victory in 1:49 over some of the best free-for-allers in the sport in the $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace at Mohegan Sun Pocono, boosting his season’s bankroll to $315,750 for North York’s John Craig, and lifting the purse earnings of God’s Stable over the $1.5 million plateau. Luck Be Withyou has a chance to add to his bankroll this Saturday in the $430,600 William R. Haughton Memorial.
Versatile and speedy trotter Thor Seelster was ridden to victory under saddle by Clinton owner Natalie Elliott at Hanover July 4. Crack pacing filly Stonebridge Quest continued her winning ways registering her second straight stakes victory in the $60,800 Kin Pace Final at Clinton Raceway on July 5 for Cal and Angie Stiller’s Stonebridge Farms in Arva, Ontario.
Also on July 5 PL Hellcat was never headed to score his fourth season’s victory for Uxbridge horseman Norm Clements at Tioga Downs, rounding out another banner weekend for The Stable That God Loves.
This past weekend, stable member Shake It Cerry finished second in the $250,000 Graduate Final at The Meadowlands. She was individually timed in 1:49.4, a nose behind winner JL Cruze -- who trotted the fastest mile in Meadowlands history. Shake It Cerry looms a serious threat in this Saturday's $443,000 Hambletonian Maturity, to be raced at a distance of 1-1/8 miles this Saturday at The Meadowlands.
Ten stakes winners are included among the 29 starters in the 61-horse stable that have compiled impressive totals: 54 wins, 48 seconds, 36 thirds and more than $1.78 million in purses. The Stable could surpass the $2 million mark in seasonal earnings this weekend.
“It is an incredible record, what a great story,” commented TSN's anchorman Cory Woron on the June 20 North America Cup national telecast that aired this touching feature on the Standardbred Chaplaincy and The Stable That God Loves. “It is one of the top stables in the country.”
The Stable That God Loves is a fundraising initiative for the Standardbred Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada. As part of the program, one per cent of each horse’s purse earnings in 2015 is donated to the Chaplaincy, which is dedicated to providing for the emotional, physical spiritual and human needs of the horse racing work force in southwestern Ontario.
The program’s top money earner is Erin, Ontario horseman Mac Nichol’s Thoroughbred Madefromlucky, winner of the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes and twice runner-up to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. The handsome and speedy sophomore has banked $390,200 from a pair of wins and a second in five trips postward this year. He is presently in training at New York’s Belmont Park for his upcoming engagement in the Gr. 2 $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Racetrack in Chester, West Virginia on August 1st.
Stalls are always available in The Stable That God Loves. Every horse (Pacer, Trotter or Thoroughbred), regardless of ability, is welcome and guaranteed a stall.
Please send requests for stall space to Ken Middleton: [email protected], or Norm Clements: [email protected]
(Racetrack Chaplaincy)