The Champions Trot Series kicked off on Wednesday night at Sudbury Downs with Long Ago matching the track record for older male trotters in the first of three $15,000
divisions.
The series is for non-winners of $75,000 as of Wednesday, August 24.
Long Ago and driver Bruce Richardson turned back a challenge from favourite Imminent Response (Reg Gassian) past the half-mile mark and cruised to a two and three-quarter length victory in a season’s best 1:57.4. The time of the mile matched Zorgwijk Fortunate's track record for older male trotters, established in 2009. The six-year-old son of Duke Of York-Hope Floats, a winner of seven races in 27 starts this year, is owned by trainer John Holding of Campbellville, Ont. and Bryan Montgomery of Fergus, Ont. He paid $6.80 to win as the second choice in the field.
Robert Deschaine’s Victors Valiant, driven by Mike MacNeill, was a wire-to-wire winner in the next split, holding off first over challenger Dash Car (Gerry Belanger) by half a length for the 1:59.2 triumph, his eighth of the season in 27 starts. Philippe Belanger trains the four-year-old son of Valley Victor-Crunchess, who paid $7.10 to win as the second choice.
In the final division, Kashas Kid romped to a 10 and three-quarter length victory in 1:58 for driver Paul MacLean and trainer France MacLean, who were three-time winners on the 11-race card. The six-year-old son of Andover Hall-Kasha Hanover paid $5 to win, also as the second choice. Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh, Ont. owns the winner of five races in 25 seasonal starts.
For results from Wednesday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Wednesday Results – Sudbury Downs.