Lookinlikeamillion wasn't the apple of the wagering public's eye, but he looked stunning in the winner's circle after upsetting in the 32nd Manitoba Futurity, the $15,074 main event of an action-packed card on Saturday, Sept. 7 at The Loop.
Richard Remillard settled Lookinlikeamillion into fourth early as Chasin Rainbows and driver Darryl Mason kept favoured Choozetocruise (Glenn LeDrew) parked through a :28 opener. Choozetocruise finally found a spot on the pylons just before the half, when Lookinlikeamillion was right-lined from fourth to challenge. Pressuring the pacesetter through a :58 half and 1:29 third panel, Lookinlikeamillion wore down Chasin Rainbows, who packed it in around the far turn. Lookinlikeamillion lived up to his name to win by more than two lengths in 2:01. Chasin Rainbows stayed for second with Cartoon Kid (Marc Fillion) completing the top trio.
It's a new lifetime mark for Lookinlikeamillion (Armbro Baylor - Untold Millions) and a new track record for sophomore pacing geldings, shaving two-fifths of a second off Handsome Dan's former 2:01.2 mark. Tara Isman trains the five-time winner, and co-owns the earner of $28,448 with Dr. Valerie Isman & George Isman of Gladstone, Man. and Garett Isman of Calgary, Alta. There were no win tickets wagered on the winner.
There was one win ticket placed on Fan C That in the $10,500 Four-Year-Old Stake, and Darryl Mason delivered the 25-1 shot home to the delight of that ticket holder with a wire-to-wire score in 2:02.3 Favoured Braxtons Boy (Michel Rey) just missed by a neck to finish second, with My Little Chloe (Cory Manning) nabbing the show spot.
Sherri Mason trains Fan C That, a four-year-old son of Armbro Baylor - Cordees Fantasy, and she co-owns the stallion with her husband — driver Darryl. Fan C That paid $52.00 to win, this marking his third trip to the winner's circle to lift his earnings to $18,063.
After not being used hard and sitting in the pocket for the first three fractions, Wood Morning ($16.90) and driver Michel Rey got up in the final strides to nail pacesetting stablemate Shady Roan (Clayton Braybrook) in the $10,500 MSSBA Kindergarten Stakes for two-year-old pacers. The time of the mile was 2:04.2, and it established a new track record for rookie pacing colts. Cartoon Kid held the previous mark at 2:05.4.
A son of Mystician - Dawns Early Rise, Wood Morning is a homebred owned by Kevin Hildebrandt of St. Malo and Aurel Vodon of Virden, Man. Wood Morning is perfect in his career, as this was his lifetime debut.
Armycaptin Hanover ($3.10) continues to stake his claim as the top horse in the province, winning for the sixth time in eight provincial tries. His victory on Saturday came in the $5,900 Open Handicap Pace, his fourth Open win at The Loop in five seasonal attempts. He was three parts of a length the best on this occasion for driver Michel Rey, trainer Richard Rey and owner Laverne Turnbull of Kitchener, Ont.
While not active in the stakes events, trainer Mathew Howlett enjoyed a solid day at the office. Sending out five horses, Howlett trainees won three races on the day. Mathew's father Don Howlett was at the controls for each of those victories, as the duo teamed up to win the third race with Bobby Bigwheels (2:05.1; $3.50), Voodoo Blue Chip ($13.00; 2:01.4) in the fifth and Litizor ($4.90; 2:00.1) in the eighth.
Howlett now sports a sparkling 0.568 UTRS on the season by virtue of a 15-6-3 summary from 34 starts.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Manitoba, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop.
(Standardbred Canada)