After having trained Judge Joe in all but four of his starts in his $962,926 career, horseman D. R. Ackerman has a pretty good feel for Crème De Cocoa, Judge Joe's half sister that will be contesting the $502,000 Goldsmith Maid Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack
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Crème De Cocoa finished third behind Crys Dream in their elimination last weekend, and the duo will start side by side in Saturday 's final, which has been carded as Race 5 (9:19 p.m.). Ackerman and Crème De Cocoa will line up in Post 5, while Crys Dream and pilot Luc Ouellette will start from Post 4. The juvenile trotting fillies have been gauged as 10-1 and 1-2, respectively, on the morning line odds.
When asked about Crème De Cocoa's break in stride behind the gate in her Breeders Crown elimination, Ackerman said that it was due to an equipment change which has since been rectified.
"I had taken her headpole off," Ackerman said. "She wears a headpole on the left hand side. I had taken it off the week before when she won at Balmoral. She ended up getting her head all around. [The headpole] went back on and it ain't coming off."
When asked about similarities between Judge Joe and Crème De Cocoa, Ackerman said, "They are fairly similar. They like to trot and are very nice horses to be around and very willing. He and her are just nice horses that are a real pleasure to be around."
Ackerman went on to say that the Chocolatier filly has "always trotted nicely, and has always wanted more." In Saturday's final, Creme De Cocoa will be getting more of what was offered in her elim: Crys Dream.
"Right now everyone's got to get a whole lot better if they want a piece of Crys Dream, that's for sure."
To view the entries for Woodbine's Saturday card, click here.
(Quotes courtesy of WEG)