Sophomore pacing colt Up The Credit, a North America Cup eligible, rallied off a perfect second over trip in rein to driver Jody Jamieson to capture the $80,000 The Diplomat on Saturday night at Woodbine
Racetrack. The Diplomat is for three-year-old pacers that were non-winners of $100,000 in 2010.
Leaving from post position No. 5 amongst a field featuring six North America Cup eligibles, Up The Credit settled into sixth place while Rockabillie (Phil Hudon) fought his way to the lead ahead of his stablemate, elimination winner Eighteen (Sylvain Filion), during a :26.1 opening quarter.
Refusing to sit a pocket trip, Eighteen looped the leader down the backstretch and hit the half in :56.3 while the other elim winner, Fantaddy (Scott Zeron), moved underway from fifth with Up The Credit following his cover.
Fantaddy began to apply pressure to the leader into the final turn and past three-quarters in 1:25.2 but Eighteen opened up a little as they entered the stretch. However, Jamieson sent his charge wide into the three-path and Up The Credit swooped past them both with a :26.1 final frame to score in 1:52.1 by three-quarters of a length. Eighteen was the runner-up and Fantaddy finished third.
"They were smoking out of there," said Jamieson following the victory. "They went :26.1 to the opening quarter so I tucked my horse along the rail and was able to sit behind Scotty [Scott Zeron, driving Fantaddy]. When Scott pulled, I was happy to sit on his back and he didn't flush any cover so I was second over. I was right where I wanted to be, I didn't want to be third over.
“I wasn't overly confident turning for home,” he said. “Eighteen was on the front and Fantaddy was still gaining ground, so my horse had to dig in. I knew he would give me a great kick like he usually does, but it's a horse race and you just never know. We came home in [:26.1] and my horse was two lengths off at the three-quarter pole. It was a huge effort on his part."
Up The Credit paid $3.70 to win as the 4-5 favourite. The three-year-old son of Western Terror-Cantbuymehappiness, who was nosed out by Fantaddy in his elimination last week, has won half of his eight lifetime starts to earn $98,440 for trainer Carl Jamieson, who co-owns with Thomas Kyron of Toronto, Joanne Morrison of Beeton, Ont. and Quebec owner Brian Paquet.
Jamieson kept up his winning ways to earn four victories on the card (just like he did on Friday night). In regular racing action, he guided Presidential Series champion Alexie Mattosie to victory in the $28,000 Preferred 2 Pace.
After being parked past the :26.1 opening quarter, outside starter Alexie Mattosie and Jamieson finally cleared the lead down the backstretch. The duo reached the half in :54.3 before Upfront Hoosierboy (Mario Baillargeon) rushed to command and opened up a couple lengths on the field by the 1:22.1 third quarter mark. Jamieson rolled Alexie Mattosie back out of the pocket in the stretch and passed Upfront Hoosierboy before stopping the clock in 1:50 flat. Upfront Hoosierboy finished two lengths behind in second and Kindly Poet was third.
Alexie Mattosie paid $9.30 to win. The five-year-old gelded son of No Pan Intended-Dame Crombie, a winner of five races in 11 starts and $149,220 this year, is trained by Donald Lindsey, who co-owns with Paul Kleinpaste of Orangeville, Dennis Mavrin of Woodbridge, Ont. and William Alempijevic of Portland, Oregon. The winner of 23 races lifetime now boasts a bankroll of $463,295.
Jamieson also won with Dalhousie Dave and Rate Exchange.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.