p,2 1:49.2s ($875,411)
Artsplace – Precious Beauty – Jate Lobell
2009 summary: 8 – 7-1-0 ($875,411)
Trainer: Casie Coleman
Driver: Mark MacDonald
Owners: Steve Calhoun (ON), West Wins Stable (ON)
Breeder: James Avritt (KY)
The strapping son of Artsplace - Precious Beauty grabbed plenty of headlines during a phenomenal rookie campaign for co-owner and trainer Casie Coleman. A $50,000 yearling purchase at Harrisburg, Sportswriter capped off his freshman year as the top money winner in his division with just over $875,000 earned. After a pair of qualifying wins, the colt won his pari-mutuel debut for driver Mark MacDonald in 1:55.1.
Due to a gap in his schedule, Coleman decided to qualify Sportswriter again on August 10 and he turned many heads with a 22-1/2 length victory romp in 1:53.3, serving notice he had the ability to compete at the highest level.
Four races later, he justified the hype with a stunning 1:49.2 world record performance in the $1 million Metro Pace at Mohawk Racetrack. Sportswriter also notched stakes victories in the $133,393 Nassagaweya Stakes and the $160,000 Champlain Stakes, both held at Mohawk.
His lone defeat came in his final start of the season when he suffered a heartbreaking loss by just a head to the talented All Speed Hanover in the Breeders Crown final.
p,2 1:54.4h ($295,250)
Camluck – Cheeky Hanover – Walton Hanover
2009 summary: 13 – 5-2-1 ($295,250)
Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore
Drivers: Randy Waples, Jack Moiseyev
Owners: Dr. Ian Moore (PE), R G McGroup Ltd. (NB), Serge Savard (QC)
Breeder: Flintlock Farm Inc. (PA)
The son of Camluck - Cheeky Hanover was a major contender in the Ontario Sires Stakes as evidenced by five on-the-board finishes in eight starts in the provincial program and just over $120,000 in earnings.
The $45,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase was another bright spot in 2009 for Prince Edward Island trainer Dr. Ian Moore and his ownership group which includes New Brunswick businessman Ron McLellan and former NHL great Serge Savard of Quebec - the same group that campaigned 2008 Little Brown Jug champion Shadow Play.
Wellthereyougo enjoyed his finest hour in early August when he captured both his elimination and final of Grand River Raceway’s signature event, the $320,000 Battle Of Waterloo. With Randy Waples at the controls, the powerful colt took no prisoners en route to a 4-3/4 length victory in 1:55.
He followed that up with a sweep of his elimination and the final of the next OSS event at Flamboro Downs, including a dominant 1:54.4 victory in the $130,000 final.
Who do you think will win? If you haven't voted yet, head over to the 2009 O'Brien poll.