Trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer began the 2022 edition of the John Brennan Trotting Series on Wednesday night (April 6) at Yonkers Raceway by winning two of the five $25,000 divisions that took place.
In the first split, Smedshammer put Seventier on the point from post 1 and he led through stations of :28.3, :58.2, and 1:27.4 on his way to a 2-1/4 length decision in 1:56.1. Striking Genson was the runner-up after a pocket trip, and Creative Venture turned a second-over trip into a third-place result.
A four-year-old Chapter Seven gelding, Seventier is owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC. This was his eighth victory, and he has now earned $105,026. The 1-2 favourite, Seventier paid $3.10 to win and led a $7.80 exacta and a $39.80 trifecta.
Lady Ann NO and Smedshammer had command through well-rated panels of :29, :59, and 1:28.2 in the next grouping, and a :28.4 last quarter carried Lady Ann NO to a 2-1/2 length win in 1:57.1. Credit Con had a two-hole journey and wound up second, and Circle Of Life AS grabbed third.
American Viking Racing Stable owns Lady Ann NO, a six-year-old Norwegian-bred Credit Winner mare. She has a record of 7-3-4 from 26 tries, and she has now put away $149,730. Lady Ann NO was the 4-5 choice and returned $3.90 to win. She also keyed a $19.80 exacta and a $107 trifecta.
Front-end tactics also worked for Toccoa Falls in the third flight. After clearing Shadrack Hanover for control before the :27.4 opening quarter, Toccoa Falls went on to reach the half in 57.3 and the three-quarters in 1:26.3 en route to a 1 1/2-length win in 1:56. Bazillionaire was the second-place finisher and Heartofgold Devie checked in third.
Per Engblom trains Toccoa Falls, a five-year-old gelding by Trixton, for owners Evan Katz and Frank Canzone. Toccoa Falls is now a seven-time winner from 49 trips behind the gate, and he has now banked $128,668. Toccoa Falls, dispatched as the 3-5 favourite, paid $3.20 to win. The exacta was worth $28.80 and the trifecta kicked back $180.50. Yannick Gingras drove the winner.
Levator, Goo Doo Doll, and Hat Trick Marleau all showed speed in the fourth section, with Goo Doo Doll clearing Levator and then yielding to Hat Trick Marleau before the :27.3 opening quarter. Hat Trick Marleau then set middle-half fractions of :57.1 and 1:25.4, with Jula Muscle Pack making a first-over move out of fourth past the half and then sliding into the pocket approaching three-quarters.
Hat Trick Marleau managed to maintain the top spot around the last turn, and although Jula Muscle Pack came back to the outside and tried to chase down the leader in the stretch, it was to no avail, as Hat Trick Marleau went on to score by a length in 1:55.3. Emotions Riches got third.
Ricky Bucci trains and owns Hat Trick Marleau, a six-year-old gelded son of Crazed. Hat Trick Marleau made his 15th appearance in the winner’s circle and returned $3.40 to win as the 3-5 favourite. He was atop a $6.40 exacta and a $26.40 trifecta. George Brennan drove the winner.
The last division of the night saw P L Oscar blast through from the pole position and make 1-5 favourite Plumb work to clear beyond a 28.2 opening quarter. Plumb then chopped out the half in 58 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:26.2 before separating from the others on the far turn.
After Plumb opened up a gap, it looked like the race might be over, but she began to come back to the closers in the lane. Taking advantage of that was Top Me Off, who went first-over from fifth past the half, ducked into fourth in the backstretch, and then began a second first-up move nearing three-quarters. Despite doing that uncovered work on the rim, he had the most trot in the lane and got by Plumb in the dying strides to score by half a length in 1:56.1. Plumb had to settle for second, and P L Oscar was third.
Top Me Off, a four-year-old son of Bar Hopping, is owned by trainer Arlene Cameron. Top Me Off posted his 22nd win, and he has now stashed away $160,459. A 19-1 shot, Top Me Off paid $40.20 to win. Winning exacta and trifecta tickets collected $86.50 and $534, respectively. Jordan Stratton drove the winner.
The John Brennan Trotting Series has two more preliminary rounds on April 13 and April 20, with the final and consolation on April 27.
Stakes action continues at Yonkers on Friday (April 8) with three $40,000 divisions of the fourth round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series and Monday (April 11) with four $40,000 splits of the fourth leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series.
(Yonkers Raceway)