The late double at Grand River Raceway provided fireworks on Monday, Aug. 17, with Djimon delivering a front-end score in the $15,500 Preferred Trot before Cold Creek Cali matched the track record for three-year-old pacing fillies in the final with a 1:52 score.
Djimon left from post three as the 2-1 second choice in the top-level trot, asserting himself quickly off the wings with driver Scott Coulter. Trotting on top through a quarter of :28, Djimon opened up on the field by four lengths on the way to the half in :56.3. Patriarch Hanover (Travis Cullen) moved into second and cut the deficit to two lengths as Djimon remained in charge to three-quarters in 1:25.
The favoirites remained one-two rounding the final turn, with Djimon maintaining his advantege to the head of the lane. Striding home confidently with a :28.2 final quarter, Djimon reached the wire two lengths clear of Patriarch Hanover in 1:53.2. Tymal Riggs (Garrett Rooney) was third, 6-3/4 lengths back of the winner.
Trained by Shawn Steacy, Djimon has won back-to-back this season and three of 19 on the year. The six-year-old Tactical Landing-Sheenas Shadow gelding has banked $467,565 in his career for owners Hudson Standardbred Stable of Hudson, Que., Dale Larson of Kent City, MI, and Stephen Downey of Quispamsis, N. B.
In the $12,500 filly and mare conditioned event that served as the nightcap, Cold Creek Cali blitzed to a track record equalling performance with driver Anthony Haughan in the sulky.
Cold Creek Cali got away in the third spot on the first turn from post two while J M Ooh Lala (Travis Cullen) cut the opening quarter in :27.1. The order up front remained unchanged to the half in :55.3 before Cold Creek Cali went on the attack on the backstretch. Marching first-over, Cold Creek Cali moved alongside the 11-1 leader as the fillies blitzed to three-quarters in 1:22.3.
Cold Creek Cali put away J M Ooh Lala on the final turn, crossing over to the cones with Lainey Blu (Austin Sorrie) in pursuit into the stretch. Lainey Blu continued to chase, but came up three parts of a length short of Cold Creek Cali who stopped the timer in a career best 1:52. Oceanside Magic (Samuel Fillion) was third, 6-3/4 lengths back of the winner.
Trained by Mike Bishop, Cold Creek Cali has won two of three this season with a second place effort in her other try. The daughter of Dali-Tymal Black Satin has banked $35,530 in her career for owner and breeder Cold Creek Standardbred of Grafton, Ont., and co-owner Chad Murphy of Cobourg, Ont.
The 1:52 clocking equalled the mark established by Razzin Jazz in June of 2024 and matched by Annies Diva this summer.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada; Photo of Djimon)