Kawartha Downs Horse Racing

Super Final Win For Brethour Barn

Standardbred owner Dan Walker of Cold Creek Standardbred in Grafton got a phone call from his trainer, Murray Brethour of Sunderland, about a week after Walker acquired a yearling in the late fall of 2020.

On Saturday night Walker remembered, “Murray calls me and says, “You know what you’ve got here with this c**t? It’s good!’”

In his $225,000 Ontario Sire Stakes Super Final for three-year-old pacing males at Woodbine Mohawk on Saturday, Brethour showed his handicapping was pretty good as well, as the Betterthancheddar gelding Cold Creek Queso, exploded to a 5 1/4 length victory at the expense of a good field in a solid 1:50, two weeks after he won his most recent Ontario Sire Stakes Gold event in 1:48.3 under more favourable conditions for a fast mile.

The 4-5 public choice off that big win, Cold Creek Queso was forwardly-placed early by driver Sylvain Filion, sitting third as Kolby Two Step took the lead away from Magical Arthur just after a :26.4 quarter. Filion had plenty of horse in front of him and decided to take matters into his own hands, pulling his charge to the outside and making the lead late on the backstretch, approaching a moderate half-mile of :55.

After that fairly soft work assignment in the first half of the race, Cold Creek Queso had more than enough to finish out the task at hand, reaching the three-quarters in 1:23, with longshot Century Inspector tiring after having to challenge without cover, and second choice Ron poised on that one’s back and ready to gain wide.

But nobody was gaining on Cold Creek Queso down the Mohawk stretch on this night, as Filion was just a passenger as the three-year-old expanded his lead seemingly with every step.

Betterhavemymoney launched a sharp rally on the far outside late to just catch Ron for second money, giving sire Betterthancheddar a 1-2 finish in the glamour boys division of the Ontario program.

Cold Creek Queso was a surprise winner at age two in the OSS Grassroots Championship and continued to improve from two to three. As he has developed, so has his bankroll, which now sits at $246,152 for 2022 and $296,164 lifetime.

Sylvain Filion of Milton, a member of one of world harness racing’s leading families based in Quebec, noted after the race: “This horse is very easy to drive – you can race him from behind or in front, and he always shows up.”

Asked about his tactical trip this evening, Filion said, “I moved him to the lead down the back(stretch), and once we got the lead he started to get a little lazy on me, so I popped out his earplugs. He was good and strong after that – he took right off.”

Cold Creek Queso was bred by Debora Stokes, also of Grafton, the corresponding secretary for Cold Creek Standardbred.
(OR)

Seeking Salvation Breaks Maiden

The three-year-old trotting filly Seeking Salvation broke her maiden last night at Mohawk for trainer/driver John Thomson and owner Carla Selig of Peterborough.

John was up behind the daughter of Merchandiser who had a comfortable four length lead at the wire reached in 1:58.1. It was the first lifetime trip to the winners’ circle in 19 lifetime tries (13 this year) for the filly whose 2022 campaign started at KD.

Seeking Salvation’s dam, Risk Seeker, raced at the Fraseville oval often in her career while in the stable of Dr. Peter Johnston.

Huge Upset For Goudawon

Locally owned Goudawon pulled off a stunning last to first upset victory in Friday evening’s $157,200 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division for three-year-old pacing fillies at Mohawk.

Stepping up to the Gold Series riding a three-race win streak, Goudawon and driver Bob McClure sat back before making the most of their opportunity, charging home in :26.3 to pick off her rivals at odds of 40-1.

“I just wanted to use her as little as possible the whole way and cut both turns and try and salvage a fifth and get (the connections) their entry money back,” said McClure. “I knew they wanted to try the Golds and they ended up unlucky with a heavyweight division with just eight horses.

"It worked out really well and at the head of the lane she had a ton of go, we got out of Prohibition Legal’s back and she just kicked home great.”

The opening-half of the contest saw Speaker Nancy blast out to post a :26.4 first-quarter before Balance rushed to the top from fourth to hit the half in :56.3. The new leader did not rest on the lead, blasting the third-quarter in :27.

Even-money choice Prohibition Legal got away sixth and got into the outer-flow, but sat third-over turning for home. Meanwhile, eventual winner Goudawon got away eighth and hugged the rail throughout the opening three-quarters.

In the stretch, Balance did her best to fight off rivals, dealing with pressure from Speaker Nancy and Prohibition Legal. Balance’s game effort would be overshadowed by Goudawon, who angled off the pylons to the far outside and shot by to score by a neck in a career-best 1:51.1.

Balance held second, while 41-1 longshot Got The Gold got third after sitting third at the rail throughout. Prohibition Legal rounded out the Superfecta.

A homebred for Brenda and Mark Lane, who share ownership with Anthony Lane, Goudawon delivered her connection’s a great thrill with her stunning victory.

“It just feels fantastic,” said Brenda Lane. “Our family is here and I’m really at a loss for words and that’s not me. I foaled her out myself and we decided we’re all in and it’s great.”

A daughter of Betterthancheddar, Goudawon improved her three-year-old record to five wins in 10 starts and now holds the distinction of being a Grassroots and Gold winner in the same season. The Murray Brethour trainee is now a seven-time career winner with $121,770 earned in 2022 and $145,869 lifetime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsIVkq44I28

(WEG)

KD Connected Cup Starters

Best of luck to everyone racing in the $1 million North America Cup final and all of the stakes on the undercard tonight at Mohawk.
https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/sports/peterborough-region/2022/06/17/local-longtime-owner-kawartha-downs-regular-have-horses-in-1-million-pepsi-north-america-cup.html

KD Connections In NA Cup Final

Horse racing is a great equalizer. Superstar horses can come from virtually anywhere which is one of the sport’s great draws. You just never know from where the next top performer is going to emerge.

Trainer Tim Gillespie, from the small town of Grafton (near Cobourg), Ontario, has trained Standardbreds for many years, rarely making more than 100 starts a year and traditionally racing for modest purses. That is not the case on Saturday night.

A regular at KD, Tim will send out his three-year-old pacing c**t Kolby Two Step in the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup, Canada’s richest harness race. The three-year-old pacing c**t qualified for the rich final thanks to a solid fifth place finish in this past Saturday night’s eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack.

Tim and his partner Jason Churchill of nearby Colborne, Ontario, purchased Kolby for $12,000 at the Ontario Select Yearling Sale in the fall of 2020. The son of Betterthancheddar rewarded them well in his first season of racing as a two-year-old last year.

Kolby Two Step won three of six starts last year, including two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events (the elite races for Ontario-sired performers). He concluded his season with $114,000 in earnings.

The North America Cup final on Saturday will be just his third start of his three-year-old campaign. His first was in the Somebeachsomewhere stake where he finished second to NA Cup elimination winner Pebble Beach and his second start came in the Cup eliminations.

Bred by Winbak Farm, Kolby Two Step is the third foal from Dancing Heart who had a modest racing career which including several starts at Kawartha for trainer Mike Wade before being retired to the broodmare band.

KD fans will remember Tim’s son Jim Gillespie who was a regular driver at the Fraserville oval for almost a decade before retiring from driving to take a post in the Mohawk race office.

Driving Kolby Two Step on Saturday night (from post eight) will be James MacDonald who inherited the drive after Doug McNair was double booked in the Somebeachsomewhere.

“I drove Kolby Two Step last week because, in the Somebeachsomewhere Doug [McNair] had a double and I was lucky enough to pick him up for his first start of the year. Doug did a great job qualifying him and bringing him along, and the horse was just coming into the race in top form and flew home,” said MacDonald who is as excited about racing in the NA Cup final as the c**t’s connections.

"Just to come off the track last week and see the raw joy, knowing that they're going to race in the North America Cup, Canada's signature race, you don't get good feelings and good vibes like that very often. You definitely get a feel when you talk to Tim and the crew. There's a lot of excitement following this horse and, you know, I'm one of the people excited."

"I'm a lucky guy. It's a great job, and I'm just really proud of what I've been able to accomplish and get to where I'm at," said MacDonald. "I'm just thrilled to be in the N.A. Cup.

“This one is going to be a special one for me. I'm good friends with Tim's son so it's going to be a lot of fun. You know, win, lose or draw, they're going to be happy. They really love their horse, and they take good care of them, just as I'm sure everyone does. But they're really excited, I'm really excited and can't wait for Saturday."

The NA Cup goes as race 11 on a star filled card at Mohawk on Saturday night, post time is 6:30. The program for the card is available below.

https://woodbine.com/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/free_programs/Free_Program_WOH_2022-06-18.pdf

(Quotes SC)

Doug Brown Captures Legends' Day Trot

Kawartha's own Doug Brown swept the featured trots with All Out Henry and Power And Grace to close out another successful edition of Legends Day on Sunday afternoon at Clinton Raceway.

The biennial event, held in support of the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation, was held after being postponed in 2021 due the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $51,000 was raised for the foundation to add to the $260,000 raised in previous years.

Brown led the lineup of Hall of Famer drivers featured in the $15,000 Legends Day Trot that included Steve Condren, Carl Jamieson, Trevor Ritchie, Paul MacDonell, Randy and Ron Waples.

Leaving from the inside post with the favoured mare Power And Grace, Brown controlled the race from start to finish. Power And Grace held a two length lead through fractions of :28.3, :59.3 and 1:29.3 before holding off Scene A Magician and Jamieson by three-quarters of a length in 1:59 flat. Esquire and Ron Waples finished one and a half lengths behind in third off a pocket trip.

"It was just lucky for these guys that I was in front because I couldn't see around her," laughed Brown. "She's a great mare. For the size of her, she gets around the turns really well."

A seven-year-old daughter of Holiday Road, Power And Grace notched her sixth win of the year from 17 starts for trainer Ron MacDonald and owners Hartel Maintenance Ltd. and Lormer McClure.

One race earlier, Brown steered All Out Henry to a 9-1 upset in the $6,500 Gayle Kerr Memorial Trot, prevailing from the pocket by a neck over the front-striding favourite Heavy Dude E and Ryan Desroche. Owned and trained by Pam Forgie, the 10 year-old Cornaro Dasolo gelding picked up his first win of the year from four starts, stopping the clock in 2:00.1. Draven Hanover and Randy Waples closed between the top pair for third.

"It was just a great day and you can tell everyone of us loves to come out here," said Brown of the 11th edition of Legends Day. "It just makes harness racing what it is when you get the people out and Clinton's always been a great place."

A member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and multiple O'Brien Award winner, Doug started his career at his home track of KD before spending many successful years on the WEG circuit. He now spends most Saturdays during the summer at the Fraserville oval.
(files, SC)

Will It Be Goodtimes For Bax Again?

Hall of fame trotter Goodtimes, a winner of more than $2 million, is one of the most talented and celebrated horses to ever race at Kawartha Downs. Co-owned and trained throughout his career by John Bax, Goodtimes started and concluded his illustrious career at the Fraserville oval and for several seasons the track’s signature race was named in his honour.

Goodtimes’ first career start came at KD, which at the time was John’s home track, on July 3, 1993. His final charted line came 10 years later, also at the same track, and with a win, the 50th of his career. Fittingly in both of those starts John Bax was in the bike. When John returned to the winner’s circle that night he knew it was a fitting way for the horse to end his career. His summary was 50-42-38 for $2.2 million in earnings in 244 lifetime starts.

Goodtimes, a son of Balanced Image, retired as a world champion with numerous awards under his harness and was deservedly inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame the very next year. That same year, 2004, Woodbine Entertainment Group renamed the Colonial Trot, a Grand Circuit Stakes event for three-year-old trotters, to the Goodtimes to honour his incredible career.

The Colonial Trot started three years after Goodtimes’s three-year-old season but Bax did have a winner in the race while it was still known by that name. His top horse, Duke Of York, another son of Balanced Image won the event in 2002 just a few weeks before competing in the coveted Hambletonian where he finished a close second in his elimination and third in the final.

Given that he refers to Goodtimes as the horse that changed his life, John Bax strives to have a starter in the race named in his honour as often as possible. He’s been very successful in that regard with a total of 10 starters over that time period.

His most successful starter came in 2015 when Hemi Seelster came through with Steve Byron at the controls in 1:54. One of the longest shots on the board, Hemi paid $155 to win. His win was assisted when the two heavy favourites broke stride early. That year was also the one the Bax family shifted their operation to the former Glengate Farm in Campbellville which reduced their trucking to Mohawk to 10 minutes versus a few hours from the Peterborough area.

Every year that the Goodtimes has been contested, John makes the trophy presentation to the winning owners. That year he handed it to his wife, Vicky as their Parkhill Stud Farm co-owned the son of Holiday Road with his son Matt as well as John Houston and the Goin To The Show Stable.

“I’d always dreamed that I’d be able to give the trophy to myself,” John said afterwards. “It was quite a shock, but I was there to give it so I certainly had no trouble standing on the other side taking it.”

John has also had two of his pupils finish second in the Goodtimes final in Will Take Charge in 2016 and Define The World in 2008. His other Goodtimes starters are Blazing Trail, Chief Justice, Verdi, Zero Boundaries, Relentless Duke and Good To Be King.

On Friday (June 10) at Mohawk he’ll send out his 10th Goodtimes starter, Duly Resolved, last year’s two-year-old trotting c**t of the year in Canada. The three-year-old gelding by Resolve has drawn post four in the first of two $30,000 Goodtimes eliminations which is scheduled as race five.

Duly Resolved’s regular pilot, and Bax’s go-to driver, Paul MacDonell, will be at the lines as usual. To date this year Duly Resolved has had three starts with a first, a second and a third recorded. His most recent start was a two length 1:54.1 win in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division on May 30 at Mohawk. That put his career earnings over the $700,000 mark in just 15 trips behind the gate.

Bax and his partners, David Hudson, Don Allensen and the Gaelic Stable, purchased Duly Resolved at the Lexington Select Yearling Sale for $30,000 in the fall of 2020. John is quite familiar with the family as he had also raced Duly Resolved’s half-sister Bright Eyes M. That daughter of Kadabra earned in excess of $300,000 in her career.

Another starter in the race that will have John’s attention is Delgado who leaves from post seven. A son of Trixton trained by Bob Young and driven by Young’s son Scott, Delgado’s dam, Ruling Class, was trained throughout her $175,000 winning career by John.

Duly Resolved will need to be at the top of his game as he’s facing not only other Ontario Sires Stakes winners, but the best sophomore trotters in the US as well including Pretender in post one who comes into the contest riding a two race winning streak in New Jersey Sire Stakes at The Meadowlands. Trained by Nancy Takter, the son of Muscle Hill is the second living foal from the great trotting mare Maven who earned over $2 million in her career.

The other Goodtimes elimination goes as race seven. The top five finishers from each elim will return for the $250,000 Goodtimes Final next Saturday, June 18, as part of the North America Cup undercard.

Meanwhile, the real Goodtimes, now 31, will just be a few miles down the road enjoying his well earned retirement.

Lanes’ Filly Takes OSS

Local owners Brenda, Mark and Anthony Lane of Norwood, saw their homebred pacing filly Goudawon easily win her Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division at Western Fair Raceway in London tonight. Trevor Henry was up behind the daughter of Betterthancheddar who went gate to wire to win by three lengths in 1:54.4.

Trained by Murray Brethour, Goudawon was notching her first win of the 2022 season. This was the first OSS race of 2022 for the sophomore pacing fillies and was part of Western Fair’s signature race card anchored by the Camluck Classic. An exceptional racehorse, and the leading pacing sire in Canada for many years, the late Camluck is also the sire of Goudawon’s dam, Keystone Samurai.

Longtime KD watchers will remember Samurai who raced the last few years of her long career primarily at the Fraserville oval with Brenda training. In total she made 248 lifetime starts and earned $169,000. Goudawon is her second foal. The first, Havartiwon, a four-year-old full sister, also won at London this week as she scored a 1:56.4 effort on May 24 for trainer/owner Ryan Steward and driver Colin Kelly.

Goudawon started her career at Kawartha last year with a 1:59.3 win in a qualifier in mid July. She had eight rookie starts including an OSS Grassroots victory at Mohawk from post 11 pictured below (New Image Media).

Nick & Kiss Connect At Mohawk

Nick Boyd, KD’s leading driver for the past few years, scored a victory tonight at Mohawk with Bluemea Kiss, a four-year-old mare he also trains.

It was the first win in three tries in 2022 for the daughter of Heston Blue Chip, and significantly, her first since being involved in a nasty accident in early November.

Bred by Winbak Farm, Bluemea Kiss put her life earnings well over $30,000 in just her 12th lifetime start. She is owned by Brydown Farms, Ken Boyd and Tyler Durst.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-SwXIh72Fc

Post Four For Perfetto

Perfetto, the only North American representative in this year’s prestigious Elitlopp, has drawn post four in the first heat for trainer/driver Dagfin Henriksen. The race is set for this Sunday, May 29, at Solvalla Race Course in Stockholm, Sweden.

There are two heats with eight trotters in each. The top four from each heat will return for the final on the same day. Perfetto seeks to become just the second Canadian bred to win the coveted race. Thirty years ago, Billyjojimbob captured the event for owner Lori Ferguson, trainer Mike Wade and driver Murray Brethour, all with long standing connections to KD.

Henriksen of course was a mainstay at KD for many years before moving closer to Mohawk, the track where Perfetto regularly races in the top level trotting class. Dagfin took over training the now seven-year-old son of Majestic Son in late 2018 after he was purchased by Gerald Haggerty of Camden East, Ontario.

Canada’s top male trotter the past two seasons, Perfetto has 92 lifetime starts with a summary of 25-15-14 for $727,876 in earnings. He was bred by Seawind Stables of New Brunswick and sold as a yearling for $32,000.

Pop Up Series At Mohawk In June

With the racing schedule set to increase to five days a week in June, Mohawk's race office has released conditions for several upcoming Pop Up Series.

Each Pop Up Series will feature two preliminary legs (purse $15,000 for each division) and a $25,000 final. A $15,000 consolation will also be available for each event.

The conditions for the upcoming Pop Up Series are listed below:

Pacing Mares:

Non-Winners of $20,000 in 2022 or Not Averaging $1,250 Per Start in 2022 (Minimum 10 starts)

Preliminary Legs: June 2, June 9
​Final: June 16

Pacing Colts, Horses, Geldings:

Non-Winners of $15,000 in 2022 or Not Averaging $1,250 Per Start in 2022 (Minimum 10 starts)

Preliminary Legs: June 3, June 10
​Final: June 17

Trotters:

Non-Winners of $20,000 in 2022 or Not Averaging $1,250 Per Start in 2022 (Minimum 10 starts)

Preliminary Legs: June 6, June 13
​Final: June 20
(WEG)

Tomorrow's Qualifiers Cancelled

WEG has issued an advisory to all racing participants that Monday morning’s (April 25) qualifiers have been cancelled.
The cancellation is due to expected inclement weather.

Qualifiers will next be held on Friday morning (April 29) at 10 a.m.
(WEG)