The Stable That God Loves has announced that the collective 2016 purse earnings from its on-track performers recently surpassed the $1 million plateau.
Additionally, ‘God’s Stable’ has announced that its 81 performers have now collectively notched 48 victories thus far this year.
On June 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, Norm Clements’ homebred trotting filly PL Jill (Kadabra-Fridays Gem) strutted to her maiden-breaking victory. The win was a three-length tally in 1:56.4. She is trained by Matt Dupuis and is driven by Mike Saftic.
Woodstock, Ont. horseman Doug Millard’s royally-bred trotting mare Elegant Serenity captured a division of the Miss Versatility Series on July 1 at Mohawk Racetrack. The four-year-old homebred closed with a strong off-the-pace effort for her trainer/driver, Roger Mayotte. She defeated the heavily-favoured Jewels In Hock in the 1:54 mile. The win was Elegant Serenity’s first victory of the season for the daughter of Kadabra-Elegant Image, who won six of 12 starts and $425,652 in her brilliant sophomore campaign a year ago.
God’s Stable’s fireworks continued on July 2 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, when John Craig’s Luck Be Withyou, who won last year’s Ben Franklin, demolished a field of eight upper echelon free-for-allers in the $75,000 consolation of the Ben Franklin. He cut the entire mile (the fractions were :25.4, :52.4 and 1:19.4) and established a new lifetime mark of 1:47.4 (It should be noted that his fractions for the first half-mile bettered those of the highly-touted Always Be Miki, who won this year’s Ben Franklin while equalling the 1:47 world record). The Chris Oakes-trained five-year-old son of Western Ideal (24-9-2-0 - $424,315 in 2015) is one of God’s Stable’s five star performers bedded down on Millionaires Row.
On July 2, Its Payday Friday played the favourite’s role at Tioga Downs and notched his 17th lifetime victory (in 1:54.1) and boosted his career bank account to $249,849 for Uxbridge, Ont. horseman Norm Clements. Payday Friday was driven to victory by Clements’ son, Daniel.
On July 3 at Georgian Downs, Clements’ favoured PL Jackson registered his second win in a row. Clements is the largest contributor to The Stable that God Loves, via his 21 trotters and pacers. Clements is the chairman of the team that implements and manages The Stable That God Loves, and well known for his philanthropic deeds. He was the 2013 recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, which honoured his legacy of service, philanthropy and goodwill rooting in the founding of ‘National Sports’ and the creation of the Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity.
A list of other ‘Stable’ members that turned in magnificent Canada Day performances appears below (each of the horses are trained and co-owned by Dave Menary and Brampton’s Mike Guerriero and partners).
• Charmed Life
(second-place finish to Hannelore Hanover in a Miss Versatility division)
• Nvestment Blue Chip
(second-place finish to Magnum J in the $105,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold)
• Sintra
(had his winning streak stopped at six, as he finished second to NA Cup victor Betting Line in the $105,000 OSS Gold)
(With files from The Stable That God Loves)