After three weeks spent battling the top trotters in North America, defending Ontario Sires Stakes Gold champion Text Me and his three-year-old trotting colt peers will resume their Ontario Sires Stakes campaign on Monday
, Sept. 27 at Mohawk Racetrack.
Text Me heads into his $40,000 Gold elimination off a seventh-place finish in the $1 million Canadian Trotting Classic, and trainer Bob McIntosh says the colt will be happy to see his Ontario-sired pals line up behind the Mohawk gate on Monday.
“His last race, we knew he was in extremely tough, and the seven-hole was not a plus. He never really got into the race,” says the Windsor, Ont. resident. “He will be relieved to get back to the Sires Stakes. That’s a tough bunch, that other bunch.”
After his Aug. 15 Gold Final win at Flamboro Downs, Text Me made his first start against the cream of the North American crop in the Sept. 4 Simcoe Stakes at Mohawk where he finished second to Hambletonian winner Muscle Massive. In the Sept. 11 elimination for the Canadian Trotting Classic, Text Me sprinted home in :27.4 to finish fifth and advance to the Sept. 18 final, which was captured by Lucky Chucky in a stakes and track record 1:52.2.
After watching the division heavyweights battle over the Mohawk oval for the last three weeks, McIntosh and his partners, Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, Ont. and C S X Stables of Liberty Centre, Ohio, have decided they will spend the remainder of the season focused on the Ontario Sires Stakes program. Although Text Me is eligible to the Oct. 2 Breeders Crown eliminations at Pocono Downs, the homebred son of Kadabra and Dial Nile will not make the trip to Pennsylvania.
“He has the Breeders Crown, but we’re not going there with them,” says McIntosh, adding that the colt could make one journey south of the border to compete in the Nov. 19 Galt Memorial at Maywood Park in Illinois.
First, the colt will be looking to add a third Gold Final title to his collection to complement those he garnered in the May 31 season opener and at Flamboro Downs in August. So long as he remains healthy and happy, the division point leader will also have an opportunity to defend the Super Final title he earned as a two-year-old, capping off a season that saw him earn $377,126 in 13 starts.
This season Text Me has had 14 racing engagements, scoring seven wins, one second and one third for earnings of $309,727. He logged his personal best 1:54.3 in an elimination for the Canadian Breeders Championship at Mohawk on July 17.
“You never know how they’ll come back,” notes the Hall of Fame horseman. “He came back in good shape and he hasn’t disappointed us.”
Text Me has done nothing but exceed expectations since his earliest days in harness. Two years ago the trotter was what McIntosh called an “insignificant looking little yearling” with less than stellar conformation. At two he grew into a strong, capable horse and this season he has added a thoroughly professional attitude to his skill set.
“He takes care of himself. He’s easy on himself,” explains McIntosh. “He sleeps a lot, he’s very relaxed, and he holds his weight good.
“And he’s not hard on the vet bill,” ads the veteran horseman.
McIntosh will hand the lines over to regular reinsman Randy Waples on Monday and the Milton, Ont. resident will steer Text Me from Post 2 in the second $40,000 Gold elimination. The second elimination, slated as the third race, also features Canadian Breeders Championship winner Hidden Message from Post 5.
The first elimination, which opens Mohawk Racetrack’s Monday evening program at 7:20 pm, will see July 10 Gold Final winner Dontgetinhisway make his first start since July 24. Oakville, Ont. resident Rick Zeron will steer Dontgetinhisway from Post 5.
The top five finishers from each elimination will return to Mohawk on Monday, Oct. 4 for the second last $130,000 Gold Final on their calendar.
To view Monday's entries, click here.
(OSS)