Outlawpositivcharg is living up to his name in every sense of the word. The upbeat five-year-old son of Blissfull Hall - Electromagnetic has been producing nothing but positive results on track since arriving on the East Coast in June of last year
.
Since making the trek across the country to join Terry Gallant’s stable, Outlawpositivcharg has put together a solid record of 16-6-2 in 26 starts while racing at the top conditioning level. And last weekend, the bay gelding made history when he won Summerside’s Governor’s Plate for the second year in a row – a feat that no other horse has accomplished in the 41 years since its inception.
It all started with Gallant and his search for an aged pacing mare to race in P.E.I. The resident of Summerside contacted Alberta-based owner Fred Lamont, who offered to send a mare his way. Little did Gallant know that Outlawpositivcharg would be loading up on the truck and trailer as well and joining his stable after a brief stop in Ontario.
“[Fred] called me about two days later and said I hope you have two stalls because I sent you another horse,” laughs Gallant.
Outlawpositivcharg finished seventh in a non-winners of three conditioned event at Flamboro Downs, but that would be his worst placing from that day forward.
“'Outlaw' raced on a Wednesday in Ontario and he landed home on the Saturday here, so I put him back in to go on the following Wednesday,” explained Gallant. “I just turned him out, I never did nothing with him and come race day I said ‘gee, I better look and see if that horse has any shoes on.’ I never even looked at him. So I went over and I picked up his feet and he had four shoes on, but his feet were all twisted and tilted. I shod him and I put him in to go and I went in [1:57.2] with him.
“So he raced in Alberta and Ontario and P.E.I within two weeks and I went in :57 with him down here and then the story just keeps on going.”
Outlawpositivcharg won his first six starts on the East Coast including his first Governor’s Plate in 1:55.1, which would mark an unforgettable moment in Gallant’s life.
“Last year was just tremendous. That’s the last day my mom walked. She was able to walk across the centre field to get her picture taken with me. She passed away on October 16th.”
This time around, Outlawpositivcharg clocked his mile in 1:56.3.
“The feeling wasn’t as good as last year when I won it for the first time when my mom was there with me. It was great this year don’t get me wrong, but last year was unbelievable.”
Outlawpositivcharg began racing predominantly off the front end for Gallant, but this season he says his pupil has been taking charge on the track.
“This year he started in when the company wasn’t that tough for him and the better horses weren’t out yet. I was just rolling him along to the front and now he thinks he should do it himself. He can get there in :27 seconds and that pretty much takes care of everyone down here so I’ve just been letting him do it.
“Last Saturday night was the first night I wore earplugs on him and I was thinking I might have to set him in the hole. I was hoping to get in behind Astronomical, but he made a break in the first turn so I just kept on going.”
Gallant says Outlawpositivcharg will race in Northside Downs' Invitational today despite having received a request to compete in the $25,000 Invitational at Bangor Raceway in Maine.
“I already committed myself to North Sydney and I can’t say no to my home province,” says the longtime horseman, adding that his pupil will head to Woodstock and Truro for the Exhibition Cup before returning home for a second shot at the prestigious Gold Cup & Saucer on August 22 at Charlottetown Driving Park.
“I hear there’s some high powered horses coming down so I don’t know if it’s the right move or the wrong move, but Wayne Whebby told me one time that you can’t win them if you ain’t in them.”
In the 2008 edition of the Cup, Outlawpositivcharg finished fifth, but Gallant says he was not disappointed with his pupil’s efforts.
“If I would have had any room he would never have been fifth. If you watch the replay you can see me seesawing him all the way through the lane and looking for some hole to go through. I’m on the winner’s back pushing Earl’s [Allan Earl Smith and Pownal Bay Matt] helmet over his eyes.”
Gallant attributes Outlawpositivcharg’s steady success on track to his positive attitude, breeding and powerful hind-end.
“He’s got so much power when he’s pushing himself from behind. All his power is all from behind and he’s just amazing.
“You’re only as good as your horse and you’re only as good as your help,” adds Gallant, who extends his gratitude to Lamont and caretakers Ashley, Bethany and Beverly for all their work with his powerhouse pacer.