Hobsons Choice, a two-year-old son of Cantab Hall, will look to take all the spoils in the $50,000 Bridger Trotting Series final on Monday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, something that would certainly please his conditioner, Clark Beelby, as well as a harness racing legend.
“Ron Waples has kind of taken him under his wing,” explained Beelby, of the connection between the decorated horseman and Hobsons Choice, a $50,000 purchase at the 2011 Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
The same can also be said of the relationship between Waples and Beelby. The Hall of Fame horseman has been helping the Campbellville conditioner over the summer.
“I am very, very fortunate,” said Beelby. “He has really taught me a lot this summer. Fortunate is the key word.”
With the help of the Waples family, both Ron and his son, Randy, Hobsons Choice’s regular driver, the bay is continuing to develop.
“He is a very sound colt,” offered Beelby. “I’ve had a little trouble with his manners, but Ronnie and Randy have done great work with him and so far so good, manner-wise.
“He just wants to be aggressive,” he continued. “He hears things behind him and he gets pretty excited and wants to go, so we are a little concerned about him off the gate. He seems to have had a nice start to his career, manner wise, so hopefully we can keep him that way.”
Hobsons Choice has yet to miss the board in his three starts for Coyote Wynd Farms of Vancouver, B.C.
After a third-place finish on July 23, he was runner-up in his first leg division of the Bridger on July 30, which was then followed up by his first lifetime win in the second leg on August 9.
“He is a little green as far as when he gets out front he is a stud colt and waits for other horses,” Beelby said. “It’s tricky to do, but Randy tried to not get him to the front too early last week. He was able to do it that race. He won’t always be able to do that.”
The 52-year-old is optimistic about Monday’s final, but is hoping racing luck is on their side.
After the Bridger, Hobsons Choice will be pointed towards the Champlain Stakes and then the William Wellwood Memorial Trot, both to be contested at Mohawk.
The Ben Baillargeon-trained Talespinner, who passed away in May of 2011, holds the stakes record of 1:56.2, which was set in 2010.
$50,000 Bridger Trotting Series final (Race 3)
Post / Horse / Listed Driver / Trainer
1 / Winbak Sullivan / Scott Zeron / David Menary
2 / Theatrical Session / Trevor Ritchie / Chris Beaver
3 / Techno Paysan / Dustin Jones / Dustin Jones
4 / Hobsons Choice / Randy Waples / Clark Beelby
5 / Rolls Blue Chip / Tom Durand / Tom Durand
6 / Wheeling N Dealin / Sylvain Filion / Dustin Jones
7 / Valley Glider / Jack Moiseyev / Brad Maxwell
8 / Rocketpedia / Riina Rekila / Riina Rekila
First-race post time is 7:10 p.m.
To view the harness racing entries for Monday at Mohawk, click the following link: Monday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(WEG)