The three-year-old pacing colts, the heavyweights of the Ontario Sires Stakes program, return to Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday for their second $130,000 Gold Final bout and trainer Carl Jamieson says while Warrawee Needy may have taken a few hits, last year’s division champion is ready for round two.
“I think he should be back on his game this week,” says the Princeton resident. “I mean last week we had to treat him all week because of the virus, we changed antibiotics halfway through the week, and treated him right up until the day of the race. So this week I hope to stop the antibiotics maybe tomorrow (Wednesday) and have him a little bit more ready. They knock their system down them antibiotics.”
Since qualifying on May 10 in a sparkling 1:49.2, Warrawee Needy’s sophomore season has unfolded more like Jamieson’s worst nightmare than the dream season he and partners Thomas Kyron of Etobicoke, breeder Dr. Michael Wilson of Rockwood and Floyd Marshall of Jarvis had envisioned following the colt’s $535,000 freshman campaign.
Forced to miss the Upper Canada Cup in May due to sickness, Warrawee Needy made his sophomore debut in the June 9 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations, finishing a solid second to Sweet Lou in a track and Canadian record 1:47.4 mile. Back at Mohawk for the $1.5 million final on June 16, driver Jody Jamieson fired Warrawee Needy out of the eight-hole, but could not get the E Dees Cam son to relax on the front end and the pair eventually faded to the back of the pack.
A June 30 overnight test at Mohawk in preparation for the Meadowlands Pace saw the colt finish third in an effort driver Jody Jamieson described as indifferent, and an endoscopic exam revealed that Warrawee Needy was suffering from a respiratory infection. Warrawee Needy made just his fourth sophomore start in the Canadian Breeders Championship at Mohawk on July 21, but drew the 10-hole and made a break heading for the three-quarters.
Last week’s inside post and resulting 1:50.1 runner-up effort to Michaels Power in the second Gold Series elimination was the first sign of light the colt’s connections have seen in months.
“We’ve been fighting the virus and stuff with him, and allergies, and then the virus, and a little bit of everything. It’s been a painful spring,” says trainer Jamieson.
With last week’s steady effort and the change in weather, Jamieson says Warrawee Needy’s daily routine has just about returned to normal. The colt is jogging on a regular schedule and spending the cooler nights out of doors. The long-legged pacer will return to Post 2 for this week’s Gold Final test and Jamieson is hoping things are finally lined up for Warrawee Needy to claim his first sophomore victory.
“They all kind of forgot about him, thought he was all done, but I don’t think he’s all done,” asserts the horseman. “He’ll come back to where he was when we get the health issues figured out.
“They won’t count him down, because it’ll be an awful big mistake when they do,” adds the trainer.
Reigning Gold Final champion Michaels Power, who has only been bested once this season, will line up at Post 1 in Saturday’s Gold Final battle. The other elimination winner, Mel Mara, will be handicapped in the high speed duel by Post 9.
The exciting three-year-old pacing colts will wage their second Gold Final battle from Race 9 on Mohawk Racetrack’s Saturday evening program. The Campbellville oval sends its first race into the starter’s hands at 7:10 p.m.
To view entries for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Entries – Mohawk Racetrack.
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