Tara Isman notched the first training triple of her career, scoring a hat trick during the card of harness racing at The Loop on Saturday, Sept. 30 while also picking up a stakes win and setting three track records in the process.
Lookinlikeamillion was dismissed by the betting public in the $10,700 MSSBA Kindergarten Stakes despite winning first up one week ago. Granted, that race was timed in 2:10.2, but Lookinlikeamillion paced home in :31.4 over a track listed as 'good' with a two-second variant. This week, the track was fast and Lookinlikeamillion was even faster.
Richard Remillard spotted Lookinlikeamillion in third as Trust Me Alot (Tyler Grundy) cut fractions of :30, 1:01 and 1:31.2. Remillard right-lined Lookinlikeamillion down the backside, tucked in around the turn and came back out to challenge when Grundy started to ask the pacesetter for an extra gear. In the stretch, Lookinlikeamillion had enough left to edge past Trust Me Alot for a half-length win in 2:02.3. Favoured Whos Your Daddy (Michel Rey) was not a factor and finished third.
Tara Isman trains and co-owns Lookinlikeamillion (Armbro Baylor - Untold Million) along with George Isman, Dr. Valerie Isman and Garrett Isman. The gelding also established a new track standard for two-year-old pacing geldings.
Isman and Remillard also visited the winner's circle together with seventh race winner Chazmichaelmichael (1:59; $7.20) and right back in the eighth courtesy Westward Angels (2:00; $5.60). Chazmichaelmichael set a new track record for older pacing geldings and Westward Angels established a new standard for sophomore pacing fillies.
The win with Westward Angels was Remillard's fifth of the day. The veteran horseman also won the fifth with Skys Little Spunk (2:01.3; $3.40) and swept the day's stakes events with his win in the fourth race aboard Looeymagooey. The feature on the day was the $16,606 MSSBA Futurity and Looeymagooey delivered as the public choice with a gate-to-wire win in 2:00.2. Braxtons Boy (Michel Rey) and Ak Nite Lady (Marc Fillion) were next best.
The time of the mile was also a new track record for three-year-old pacing colts.
Winless in seven starts as a rookie, Looeymagooey (Vertical Horizon - Mybelle Louelle) now sports a 3-3-3 summary from 20 sophomore starts for owner-breeder David Mooney of Wawanesa, Man. He paid $3.70 to win.
With all the track records that fell on the Saturday card, the fastest mile in track history took a back seat to the other achievements. That said, P L Jackson and driver Dean Rey made a statement in the $4,800 Winners Over with a 1:58 score.
A recent acquisition of trainer Arthur & Roland Rey, 10-year-old P L Jackson (Mach Three - KG Katriona) picked up his 35th lifetime win and sports more than $443,000 in career earnings. He returned $2.20 to win.
To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Manitoba, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop.