Trainer Mathieu Senez-Joannette earned his first lifetime win on Saturday, July 18 as Day Trader held on to win the fifth race at Kawartha Downs.
Mike Healey had Day Trader third past the quarter in :28 and half in :57.1, then lifted him first-over to the lead down the backstretch, clearing just past three-quarters in 1:27.3. Acefortyfour Duke (William Roy) took aim at the leader down the stretch but missed by a neck as Day Trader reached the line in 1:58.3 over the track rated "good." Katys Delight (Gord Brown) was third. The win was the first of the season in nine starts for Day Trader, who is owned by his trainer and Normand Joannette of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que. The six-year-old son of Stay Hungry-Day To Ponder is now 15-for-89 lifetime with $141,520 in earnings. He paid $5.20 to win.
Mathieu Senez-Joannette made his training debut on May 10 in the Preferred at Hippodrome 3R. The conditioner co-owns all three horses he has harnessed — Cleveland Massimo, Nazare and Day Trader — with Normand Joannette. He has tallied two seconds and a third for a record of 1-2-1 through 18 starts.
Away from the pari-mutuel race card, the awes and laughs were plentiful as the kids took centre stage for the first ever Kawartha Downs Diaper Derby and Kids Race. With the babies kicking off the entertainment in adorable fashion, four infants made the crawling dash to the finish line, earning parents some practical prizes for their growing family. It was then the slightly older kids’ chance to shine as they took to the track during a brief intermission from live racing. With an eye on bragging rights, 14 kids lined up to make one mad sprint to the finish before a grandstand full of onlookers and proud parents.
After the families in the grandstand had their fun, those on the backstretch had their turn to celebrate family at the races. With many new faces at the Fraserville, Ont. oval this season, a full field of eight horsepeople assembled on the starting line, pulling a sulky manned by a "driver."
Jeff Hunt and Chloe Deyell proved victorious by the narrowest of margins, holding off a hard-charging Ryan Guy and Sharon Christie to take home top honours and bragging rights for the annual event.
“I would love to win this race again next year,” said Hunt in his post-race interview. “I want to win my way out of this class just like Nick (Boyd) did last season.”
Nick Boyd was promoted to celebrity judge status after winning the previous two editions.
Also participating in the event were Gord and Joy Brown, Drew Smyth and Macy Cassell, Carter Gimblett and Josh Woodward, Will Roy and Jacee Woodward, Nick and Ty Ahern and Devin Rae and Hailey Howell.
Family night supported awareness for Camp Kawartha, a local outdoor camp dedicated to fostering stewardship and environmental awareness for kids and adults alike.
When racing resumes on Saturday, it will be Christmas in July at Kawartha Downs. The night will include the OLG Owner for a Night campaign, a Santa vs. Grinch race, second-chance draws, and more. Those coming to the track are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for any age group in support of the Peterborough Toy Drive.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Kawartha Downs.
(Standardbred Canada & Kawartha Downs)