Trot Insider has learned that Hambletonian Oaks elimination winner Spirit To Win passed away on Monday morning following a training mishap.
Trainer Dustin Jones told Trot Insider that the three-year-old daughter of Cantab Hall - Celebrity Spirit was getting hitched to a jog cart when she was startled, reared up and fell on groom Tyler Jones, who was holding the filly's halter. The filly got loose, fell and that fall reportedly caused a ruptured artery in one of Spirit To Win's lungs.
Owned by Allamerican Harnessbreds' Fred Hertrich III of Seaford, Del. and Noblock Racing Stable of Collingwood, Ont., Spirit To Win had a record of 11-5-3-2 lifetime with more than $190,000 in lifetime earnings. She was a winner on Saturday night, capturing her Hambletonian Oaks elimination in 1:52.2. The start before was an upset win over highly-touted Mission Brief in the Del Miller Memorial.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Spirit To Win.