Shipps Xpectancy, with driver Randy Waples, pulled off a bit of a shocker Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, cruising to a three and one-half length win over heavily-favoured Well Said in the first division of the $194,600 Nassagaweya Stakes for two-year-old pacers.
Even more remarkable was the fact that the son of Mach Three equaled the stakes record of 1:51.1, ironically held by his sire (in 2001), and did it over a racetrack made very sloppy from evening rains.
Sent postward a 10-1 outsider, Shipps Xpectancy took over from Nicholas C Hanover (Jody Jamieson) after an opening quarter in 26.4, then proceeded to sail from there, reaching the half in 55.3, then the three-quarters in 1:23.2, while beginning to widen on his rivals.
Down the lane, Shipps Xpectancy had more than enough left to hold off Well Said (Ron Pierce), with Scottie C (Tim Tetrick) back in third.
Shipps Xpectancy – Nassagaweya Stakes
Trained by John Kopas for owner Harold Shipp of Mississauga, Shipps Xpectancy was winning just his second in seven outings, but he'd entered the Nassagaweya off a closing third to Well Said last week in a division of the Champlain.
"Even on a fast track, to chop out a mile like that, it was a huge mile," said Waples. "But it wasn't unexpected by either me or John. We've known all along from the time he schooled how nice a horse he was.
"Last week, he finished third but he was a really, really good third, a very fast closing third. If you saw the replay, he really showed like belonged with these horses. He's healthy. Tonight, he wanted to go. I was all for it. As muddy as it is, it's a lot cleaner up front than the back.
"He was a little bit strong (tonight). I was hoping he'd be okay. I had to kind of race him tough, but I'm glad he held on."
In the second $193,100 division of the Nassagaweya Stakes, Straight Shooting aimed for the finish line with deadly accuracy.
Artists Rally and Jody Jamieson set the early pace with a first quarter in :27.3 over a sloppy track, with Count On Art and Rick Zeron slipping into the pocket spot while even-money favourite, Carnivore, stalked from sixth.
Paul MacDonell sent Carpe Diem out to clear at the three-eighths pole, but his clear view of the track wouldn't last, as John Campbell began to move with Straight Shooting, as did Carnivore and Ron Pierce. By the three-quarter pole Straight Shooting was looking Carpe Diem in the eye, and rushed past with Carnivore on his back as they entered the stretch. By the time Campbell and Straight Shooting hit the wire in 1:52.3, they had a one-length lead.
Count On Art knifed his way through the centre of the pack to snatch second away from Carnivore, and Best Dream Seeker closed to grab fourth.
Straight Shooting - Nassagaweya Stakes
"I think that's as good as he's been," said a mud-coated Campbell of Straight Shooting, a son of Western Terror who is trained by Richard 'Nifty' Norman for the Bulletproof Enterprises of Boca Raton, Florida. "In the elimination for the Metro Pace, he was just racing tremendous, he was pacing home right in :26 flat, maybe a shade better, when he had a hobble come undone on him.
"It was amazing. He's pretty athletic not to have fallen down (in the Metro Pace elim) when he stepped out of the hobble. I don't know if he was going to win or not, but he was certainly going to qualify for the Metro (final), so that was very unfortunate.
"He's certainly a very easy colt to drive for all his inexperience," Campbell added. "He's very relaxed. He just sat out there and when I asked him to pace he gave me a very strong run finishing.
"A lot of these colts, when they find out they can go fast they want to do it at the wrong time of the mile, but he just stayed very relaxed, no wasted energy, and when I called on him, he responded very well.
"This is a big strong colt, and I expect him to go on and get even better."
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(With files from WEG)