Luck O The Irish, one of the top two-year-old trotting colts in the Ontario Sires Stakes program this year, took some time before he relaxed for owner/breeder June Durand and her husband Tom who handles the colt’s training and driving.
“He had some trust issues and it took him several months to get over them,” relates June of Puslinch, Ontario. “I was a little worried when we got him as a yearling because he was so skittish.”
A son of Holiday Road, Luck O The Irish is the second foal, born on St. Patrick’s Day, hence the name, of the Kadabra mare Kavita. The Durands purchased the mare, bred by Karin Olsson and Bob Burgess, at the Forest City Sale in 2006 for $31,000.
“She had a bad knee but was a nice, honest race horse which is why we kept her as a broodmare,” explains June.
Luck O The Irish was born in Shreve, Ohio, at the farm of the Durands’ good friend, Lynn Baker, with whom they’ve owned several horses including $600,000 winner Tall Cotton. When Luck O The Irish was shipped to the Durands to begin his training, they were a bit apprehensive due to his nervousness.
“When he first came in he was really skittish, he’d jump at anything. Once he got to trust us he got way better but he still doesn’t like anything new. That’s why Tom’s always driven him. He trusts Tom and knows him. He likes routine and the same people around him. He’s a very intuitive colt, he watches everything.
“However, he’s quite calm at the racetrack and very level headed. After Tom pulls him up after a race he walks back quite calmly which is unusual compared to other trotters we’ve had.”
The colt’s first foray into the OSS came in his second lifetime start, on July 13 in a Gold event at Georgian Downs where he finished a neck behind Dont Rush in 1:59.3. He broke stride late in the next race, a Gold at Mohawk, and ended up three lengths back in fifth.
He behaved himself in his next Gold test back at Mohawk, winning in 1:59.1 and in his most recent Gold outing he proved very game in a battle all the way down the stretch with Dont Rush, losing by just a head.
His next start is tomorrow night, in the final regular season Gold event for this group before the year end Super Finals on October 11. After that he’ll accompany the Durands back to Florida to prepare for his three-year-old season.
“I’m really happy with his season. He has his quirks but he loves his job and is a really nice horse to be around,” said June.
Luck O The Irish has drawn post seven in the third $70,000 Gold division tomorrow night, right alongside his nemesis Dont Rush in post six. The other two divisions go as races three and five.
Tomorrow’s card also features the final Gold event for three-year-old trotting fillies with two $105,000 divisions in races one and two.
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To view entries for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Entries – Mohawk Racetrack.