Drawing Post 10 for Saturday’s $250,000 Graduate final at The Meadowlands didn’t change Claude Hamel’s travel plans.
He’ll still be on hand to watch four-year-old trotter Musical Rhythm, the best horse to come his way in more than 30 years as an owner.
“A horse like that makes you dream. And I like that he’s a stallion too,” said Hamel, 56, a farm-equipment dealer in Coaticook, Que., who has interests in about a dozen racehorses (including the good older trotter Etruscan Hanover) and also does some breeding at his 104-acre farm in nearby Ayer’s Cliff.
Hamel has enjoyed success in his home province with Quebec-bred stakes stars like Canbec Mustang and Canaco Runner, but Musical Rhythm raised the bar by competing against top-level trotters in Ontario and the U.S.
Purchased by trainer and co-owner Benoit Baillargeon at the Harrisburg auction last fall for $33,000 (U.S.), the son of Cantab Hall has since won 15 of 18 starts and more than $200,000 for his new connections and lowered his mark to 1:52.
“Benoit liked the bloodlines and thought he had good potential. He was right. Team Baillargeon has done a good job with him,” said Hamel.
The horse's only losses in 13 starts this year came in his two U.S. appearances, a fourth and sixth in legs of the Graduate at Meadowlands and Tioga Downs, but that doesn’t dissuade Hamel any more than Saturday’s post position.
“It’s not the position we wanted but he can race from behind, so if the mile unfolds well, he can be right there. But the competition is tough,” said Hamel, who owns 40 per cent of the horse.
After the Graduate, Musical Rhythm is scheduled to start in the Hambletonian Maturity at The Meadowlands, then return to Ontario, where he’s nominated for September's Maple Leaf Trot.
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)