Seventeen newbies took to the track at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening, as two-year-old pacing colts and geldings sparred in a set of $20,000 Dream Maker Pacing Series divisions.
Talbotcreek Armani marched to the lead in the backstretch en route to celebrating a maiden-breaking win in just his second lifetime start for trainer John Pentland. Jack Moiseyev mapped out the victory for the homebred son of Dragon Again who is out of Canada’s Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year in 2006, Luck Of Michelle.
The colt was on top at the half in :57.1 and he was still the leader at the three-quarter marker in 1:26.3. He uncorked a :27.3 final frame en route to his comfortable score over Meetbehindthebarn and Traumatized.
“I like that Jack [driver Moiseyev] didn’t fire him right out of there that he just kind of let him roll out and maybe drove a little more aggressive” said Pentland. “When he moved to the front, it was a nice second-quarter. It wasn’t fast. It didn’t make him tired. It didn’t bottom him out. Geeze did he ever finish strong”.
Pentland, who trained and owned Talbotcreek Armani’s dam Luck Of Michelle, says the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree.
“She was a great horse,” he said. “She was the best horse I ever had and there are a ton of similarities like their body type. He is kind of a small horse, but he is well built and they have the exact same gait. Right off the bat I was kind of excited because he had the same gait as his mom. However there was a little time around 2:15, 2:10 where I thought maybe he might not want to go ahead as much as I wanted. But I thought once you get a real driver on him he was going to be ok and that’s exactly what’s happening.”
Karen Carroll of Shedden and Natalie Pentland of Dorchester, ON bred and own the youngster who came home after from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale for a price of recorded price of $47,000.
Up Up And Out snuck up the rail to win the second division in a time of 1:55 for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Erv Miller. The son of Jeremes Jet-Mellow Out battled with Cool Like That to the quarter pole in :27.3 before releasing that rival to the lead. Cool Like That came under heavy pressure from Varadero Hanover in the backstretch, and that colt brushed to the top and led to the half-mile point in :57.4.
Varadero Hanover was still in charge at the three-quarter marker in 1:27.1, but he bore off the rail in the lane and Jamieson jumped all over the opportunity to shoot through with Up Up And Out. The youngster sizzled home in a :27-second clip to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Cool Like That, with Varadero Hanover settling for third prize.
“He has a quick turn of foot,” said Jamieson of the gelding’s star qualities. “He can snap off the gate, he can leave a little bit and is very good-gaited at this point. He is very willing and has a great attitude because when the rail opened up he didn’t hesitate. He shot right through. It didn’t take a lot of urging to get there so I am encouraged for the next couple weeks.”
Ervin Miller Stable Inc of Delray Beach, FL and Roger Hammer of Bedford, PA own the rookie, who was a $40,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. The second-time starter has banked $12,250 to date.
(With quotes from WEG)
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.