The 2012 Hambletonian is not a memory that trainer Dustin Jones will hold dear. He expected a lot better than seventh from Prestidigitator.
“The trip didn’t work out at all,” Jones said. “We thought from post six he’d be okay, but he was too far back, fourth over, and had to go three-wide around Stormin Normand. That’s the way it goes, sometimes. It’s tough to win those races.”
Jones was a lot happier with the Kadabra colt’s runner-up effort to Knows Nothing in last week’s Ontario Sires Stakes Gold elimination at Mohawk, especially after he left the gate alertly and led for the first quarter-mile.
“We wanted to try something different and he raced real well,” said Jones.
The rematch with Knows Nothing in the $130,000 Gold final will kick off a star-studded Saturday card at Mohawk.
A win would put Prestidigitator past $500,000 in career earnings, with the Simcoe Stakes and Canadian Trotting Classic still to come this fall.
“He trained good this week,” said Jones. “I just hope he behaves himself.”
To view the entries for Saturday night's card of harness racing, click one of the following links:
Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack
Saturday Program - Mohawk Racetrack
Jones also has a budding two-year-old star in Wheeling N Dealin, who captured the $50,000 Bridger final this week to extend his career unbeaten streak to four races.
“He’ll be in the Champlain next week and maybe the Wellwood after that. That should give us a better idea how good he is.”
(a Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)