Esplosione lived up to his name in two-year-old trotting colt Gold Series action at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday, July 8.
After stalking pacesetter Renegade Gypsy though fractions of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:30.3, the freshman trotting gelding laid down an explosive :27.4 final quarter, drawing away from the field to a six and one-half length victory in 1:58.2. Royal Champane closed well to be second, leaving Renegade Gypsy to settle for third. Fan favourite Kipper Whipr Snipr made a series of breaks that saw him finish at the back of the seven-horse field.
“From the time we got him, he’s been a nice, big, strong, beautiful colt,” said trainer Meg Crone. “He’s just like an aged horse. Actually my 11-year-old son Cian looks after him at the barn.”
Cambridge, Ont. resident Crone trains Espolosione for owner-breeders Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, FL and Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, ON. The son of Kadabra and Dynamite Dame learned his early lessons from New Jersey-based trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman before shipping north on June 20 for his freshman Ontario Sires Stakes campaign.
Crone and her partner, driver Anthony Haughan, sent the youngster behind the gate twice to prepare for his Gold Series debut. The gelding finished fifth on June 24 and seventh on July 2, but Crone said the second start was marred by confusion in the backfield that caused interference to three horses. Trevor Henry stepped into the race bike for Thursday’s start and gave Esplosione an ideal trip from Post 5.
“It was just a perfect spot for him,” said Crone. “Trevor and us and Richard have had a lot of success in the past, he’s drove so many of these horses he knows the routine, how they get driven and how they like them raced.”
Esplosione and Henry will team up again for the second Gold Series Leg, which takes place Thursday, July 29 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
In the second $100,600 division fan favourites Duly Resolved and driver Paul MacDonell coasted out of Post 2 and settled in third as Bar Brawl zipped through fractions of :27.3 and :58.2. Heading for the 1:28.4 three-quarters MacDonell tipped Duly Resolved out behind pocket-sitter Mr Fritter and the pair went by a tiring Bar Brawl. Once the duo squared up in the stretch, Duly Resolved found the bigger gear and powered away to a one and three-quarter length victory in 1:57. Mr Fritter was second and Drinks At Home finished third, six and three-quarter lengths behind the leaders.
“I was more nervous tonight, for some reason,” said trainer John Bax of the Resolve gelding’s second start. “He’s the flagship this year.”
The win was the second straight for Duly Resolved. In the July 2 event that saw Esplosione get shuffled around, Duly Resolved toured Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:58.1. In qualifying efforts on June 11 and 25 the gelding logged one fourth and one win. Bax said the trotter had been impressive from his earliest lessons, once he completed the transition from colt to gelding.
“We had his half-sister (Bright Eyes M, $318,637). The sister she was a bit of a handful, but this guy we could geld him. He wanted to shake hands right away, so we fixed that,” said Bax. “He’s great on the track. He’s a bit of a handful walking to and from the paddock. You’ve got to be a little careful, because he’ll rear up. He wouldn’t be any fun as a stallion I can guarantee you that.”
A $30,000 purchase out of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Duly Resolved is owned by Bax Stables, David Hudson of Dallas, Tex., Don Allensen of Wyoming and Gaelic Stable of Sharon, Ont. Purchasing yearlings has always required patience, but Bax was especially grateful to see the gelding succeed after the ups and downs his owners have faced since the start of the pandemic.
“I appreciate them sticking it out for a year and half with what’s gone on,” said the trainer. “I can’t thank the owners, all the owners, enough for being loyal and staying with it. It would have been an easy time to bail and they all were great, so it’s nice to get rewarded.”
Ontario Sires Stakes action continues at the Campbellville oval on Friday, July 9 with five $22,500 Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacing colts.
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To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.