Stakes season equals a hectic racing schedule. Tim Tetrick's travel itinerary brings him to Mohawk Racetrack for Saturday night and a card full of stakes drives.
Racing at Harrah's Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon, Tetrick flew to Mohawk for its Thursday night card, flew back to the Meadowlands for qualifiers Friday morning and returned to Mohawk for Friday night's races. He's staying in just one country for the majority of Saturday to drive on Mohawk's Saturday night card, which includes the $661,000 Metro Pace, $616,000 Canadian Pacing Derby, and the $427,000 She’s A Great Lady, before heading back stateside to drive at Philly on Sunday afternoon.
Tetrick steers World Apart, an Art Major filly from the Rocknroll Hanover mare Polar Opposition, in the She’s A Great Lady final from post three. At 10-1 on the morning line, she finished third in her elimination to Thats The Ticket, who won at 58-1, in 1:52.3.
“I really like this filly; I’ve driven her for just about every start,” Tetrick said. “I don’t think she deserves to be 10-1. I think she’s very talented, but she disappointed me last week. She had some excuses; she was sick and even choked a little bit. I expect a good effort out of her, but I don’t see why she can’t win at all. If she’s not sick, she can compete with just about any filly in the country.”
Driving another 10-1 morning line choice in the $50,000 Metro Consolation, Tetrick will drive Beach House, a Somebeachsomewhere colt from the Art Major mare Sara Sue, for owner Harry Locke and trainer Rich Gillock.
“He had the 10-hole last week and could never get into the race,” Tetrick said. “He was parked from the quarter and was three-wide for a ways. I know I half shut him off, but I think he’s a player in the consolation.”
In the Metro final, Tetrick sits behind Bettors Dream, a Bettors Delight gelding from the Dream Away mare Enduring Dream, from post 10 for owner-trainer Scott McEneny with partners John Fielding and Domenic Chiaravalle.
“I liked this horse last week,” Tetrick said. “I thought he was a little flat finishing. Jody kind of run me over down the lane and there was a lot of action last week, but Scotty [Mceneny] will have him better for this week. The 10-hole is just a long way to come. He’s young in his career; you’d hate to lay it all on the line for one race, so I hope to race accordingly and hope something works out for us late in the mile.”
Competing against favourites Pure Country and Darlinonthebeach, Tetrick neighbours the dynamic duo with Lindys Nightmare, by Western Terror out of the Bettors Delight mare Lindys Bandita, from post three for owner Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trainer Frank Antonacci in the $215,704 Simcoe for three-year-old filly pacers.
“I was trying to be second over,” Tetrick said about his drive on Lindys Nightmare in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Mohegan Sun Pocono. “I let [Nancy] Johansson’s filly in front of me [Darlinonthebeach], and she quarter-poled from fourth. It’s hard to make up ground at Pocono. A horse pulled and I was bad second over, but I think the big track will help her.”
Tetrick drives Tony Alagna trainee Winter Harbor, a Muscle Hill colt from the Andover Hall mare Spectacular Bay, in the first of two $104,020 Simcoe divisions for three-year-old trotters. He’ll start from post four for owners Brittany Farms and Little E LLC. He makes his fourth start since a year-long layoff and moves up in class from the non-winners of two company.
“I don’t know much about him,” Tetrick said. “I don’t think I’ve driven him, but Tony has a lot of good horses so hopefully we can make something happen.”
Tetrick drives another Frank Antonacci trainee in the second $104,020 Simcoe three-year-old colt trot with Taco Tuesday, a Cantab Hall gelding from the Yankee Glide mare Be My Baby. Owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut, Robert Rudolph, and Frank Baldassare, he’ll start from post three.
“He has a ton of ability, but he likes to leave money on the table because he makes breaks, Tetrick said. “When he puts his head on straight, he does what he was bred to do. When I baby raced him [last year] I thought he was one of the best ones; he would come to race when pressured, but he has always made mistakes. Hopefully he has grown out of that, I know his last couple at the Meadowlands weren’t terrible, so hopefully he can get a good piece.”
Tetrick’s other stakes drives are in the two $105,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions for three-year-old colt pacers. He steers Nocturnal Blue Chip, a Bettors Delight colt from the Mcardle mare Mcarts N Crafts, in the first division for owner-trainer Mark Steacy with partner NLG Racing Stable from post two and drives Arsenic, a Bettors Delight gelding from the Western Ideal mare Shes Poison, in the second division for owners Brad Grant, Teresa Davidson, and Michelle Mceneny and for trainer Scott McEneny from post six.
“He raced good for me at Pocono,” Tetrick said of Nocturnal Blue Chip. “He raced well; got a good trip. Just shot up the passing lane and was very handy. Mark [Steacy] has told me that he has one big move, so hopefully we can put him in the right spot.”
“[Scott Mceneny] hasn’t told me anything about this horse yet,” Tetrick said of Arsenic. “He’s up against Betting Line, who is probably the best pacer in the country right now. Unless something really weird happens, looks like we’re going to be racing for a cheque.”
Tetrick will be on the sidelines for the $616,000 Canadian Pacing Derby.
“That’s a tough group of free-for-allers,” Tetrick said of the race. “With Wiggle It [Jiggleit], Shamballa, Always B Miki, there are some great animals out there. It will be a great race to watch.”
Having won the She’s A Great Lady with American Jewel in 2011, the Metro Pace with Captaintreacherous in 2012, and the Canadian Pacing Derby with A Rocknroll Dance in 2013, Tetrick has had many successful opportunities on this particular stakes program.
“I look back and I take for granted how good those horses were,” Tetrick said on the aforementioned three. “Captain[treacherous] and American Jewel were just great horses, and A Rocknroll Dance was on a hot spree, pacing three miles straight in under 1:48....I wish I had a couple more like them. They were just pretty special.”
To view the entries for Saturday's card at Mohawk, click one of the following links: Saturday Entries -- Saturday Program Pages.
Along with harness racing’s finest competing on the track, fans will be entertained from start to finish at the Campbellville facility.
Doors open to the Grandstand at 5:30 p.m. and fans will be able to stop by and visit with retired fan favourite and double-millionaire Escape The Wind in concert with the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society outside the main entrance.
Fans arriving early can sign up at the Customer Service desk for a sulky ride on a double-seat jog cart during the races Saturday. Spots are limited and are given on a first come, first serve basis.
Mohawk is happy to once again offer the popular “First Bet on Us” promotion, where fans can sign up to receive a free $2 wager upon arrival.
An autograph session with several past winning drivers of the Canadian Pacing Derby and Metro Pace will get underway at 6:20 p.m. inside the Grandstand.
Singer/songwriter Jennifer Newman will be performing the Canadian national anthem, while Brian McIntyre will entertain with live music all evening on the apron.
There will be a variety of food options, including the BBQ Pit, Roast Beef stand and Ice Cream zone.
As always, parking and admission is free.
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Ray Cotolo)