The year hasn’t exactly been a bonanza so far for trainer Dustin Jones, but the tide might have turned this past week.
He has finalists in three rich stakes at Mohawk on Saturday night, and they all drew well.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Jones. “I know the horses will give a good effort. I just hope we get a little bit of luck.”
Wheeling N Dealin, champion two-year-old trotting colt of 2012 in both Canada and the U.S., is winless in seven starts this season, but Jones liked the way he finished his mile taking third behind Master Of Law In his $40,000 elimination for the Canadian Trotting Classic. The final is for $686,000 and Wheeling N Dealin has the rail.
“Sylvain (Filion, his regular driver) said it was his best effort this year. He’s been sharper around the barn this week too. Hopefully, he can work out a good trip.”
Game On Hanover, a two-year-old Donato Hanover filly also owned by Ecurie Synergie, has the inside slot in the $374,000 Peaceful Way final. She’s winless in four career starts but finished second to Grammas Girl in an elimination last weekend, “trotting every quarter faster than the one before,” Jones noted.
His third finalist is Raise The Curtain, a two-year-old son of Broadway Hall who’ll go from post two in the $365,000 William Wellwood final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, just inside favourites Harper Blue Chip and Father Patrick. Raise The Curtain finished fourth to Father Patrick last week.
While the stable hasn’t had much success so far, Jones said there are still a lot of big races in Canada and the U.S. over the next three months, and the game plan was to have the horses ready for fall.
“I’m leaving for Lexington next week with eight horses and will be on the road for six weeks,” he said. “They’re feeling good and they’re fresh. Hopefully, we’ll have a good fall.”
Post time for the first race is 7:25 p.m. To view the entries for Saturday night's card of harness racing at Mohawk, click one of the following links: Saturday Entries - Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)