Apprentice Hanover dominated yet another $34,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Racetrack while lowering his own Canadian season's record to 1:50.4 early Saturday evening.
The four-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere romped to his ninth win in a row for Woodbine's leading owner Bradley Grant of Milton, Ont. His streak began back in November 2013 and includes a victory in the Cleveland Classic and six Preferred events at Woodbine.
After settling away third from post five through a :27.3 opening quarter, Apprentice Hanover and Woodbine's top driver Jody Jamieson swept to the lead down the backstretch. The overwhelming 1-5 favourite reached the half in :56.2 and raced to three-quarters in 1:23.1 before drawing away to another open-length victory. Early leader Mckinney (Sylvain Filion) finished second while Top Gear (Mike Saftic) followed in third.
Apprentice Hanover will now head stateside for the opening leg of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, which is set for next Saturday, March 22 over Yonkers Raceway’s half-mile track.
“All things considered, he’ll be there a week Saturday in the opening round,” said trainer Ben Wallace in a recent interview. “Whether we go five weeks in a row with him or not is another story, but I think a half-mile track suits him great. He was really good at Northfield [in the Cleveland Classic]. I don’t think there is a track that bothers him. He’s just a nice horse right now.”
Apprentice Hanover paid $2.40 to win.
In other action, 11-year-old pacer Kindly Poet became harness racing's newest millionaire with his third-place finish later in the sixth race. He was driven by Chris Christoforou and is owned by trainer Murray Brethour of Sunderland, Ont., Scarff Legacy Stables of Halifax, N.S., Donald Varcoe of Stayner, Ont. and Daniel Sarafian of Stouffville, Ont.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.
Congratulations to Murray and
Congratulations to Murray and to the owners of Kindly Poet. We are proud to have bred, foaled and raised this lovely horse for the late Steve Scarff, who was a favourite client for years. We had many lively conversations regarding the horse's future, as he had a string of misfortunes; a huge overbite, a broken scapula courtesy his dam, and any number of minor issues caused largely by his inability to just behave sensibly! Wish Steve was here to phone and rub it in!
Congrats, Kindly Poet, this
Congrats, Kindly Poet, this is well deserved, indeed! Thanks to all his connections for keeping the faith with this wonderful aged pacer! Million Dollar Man!
It will be interesting to see
It will be interesting to see Apprentice racing horses of his own calibre.
He'll be tested.
Best of luck to his connections
That was a huge mile for
That was a huge mile for Apprentice into that wind. Safe to say it was 149 or better on a calm night. Great for this time of year. I kinda hope he stays down in the USA after this next stakes series.
Georg Leber-ICR Racing
Congratulations to Murray
Congratulations to Murray Brethour and his team for keeping Kindly Poet competitive, at this level, for this long and reaching over a million in earnings !!!!