He hasn’t made up his mind yet about trying Flanagan Memory against older foes in the Maple Leaf Trot, but trainer Rene Dion was definitely thrilled with his effort Saturday against other four-year-olds in the $484,450 Hambletonian Maturity at The Meadowlands.
The Ontario-bred son of Kadabra finished third behind impressive winner Your So Vain, edged for second by 2013 Horse of the Year Bee A Magician, after looming dangerously in the outer flow on the final turn of the mile-and-an-eighth race. It was his first career start outside Ontario.
“He raced awesome. He never quit, trotted right to the wire. They went the mile in 1:51.3 and still had to go another eighth,” said Dion, co-owner of Flanagan Memory with Liette Flanagan of Repentigny, Que.
It was the second sharp effort in a row for the horse, a 20-1 upsetter at Mohawk the previous week in a $34,000 preferred event, and the $47,700 payday pushed his career earnings beyond $500,000.
“He’s had two tough miles in a row,” said Dion, “so I want to see how he came out of this one before committing (to the Maple Leaf Trot, with the box closing Tuesday), especially with (probable favourite) Sebastian K so hard to beat right now. We’ve paid him into a few other stakes, at The Meadowlands and Vernon Downs, so there will be other opportunities.”
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)