Desperate Man of Arthur, Ont., tops at North America Cup
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One of the best tales in horse racing come when small stables from a small city hit it massive.
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The newest of those is Determined Man, who set off celebrations within the small neighborhood of Arthur, Ont. together with his win within the $1 million North America Cup on Saturday.
Pushed by Trevor Henry, a long-time veteran of Ontario harness circuits, Determined Man raced in mid-pack as 3-5 favourite Bulldog Hanover took the sector from simply contained in the opening flip all the way in which to the highest of the stretch.
Across the flip, Henry put Determined Man in an ideal second-over place, advancing on the again of second-choice Excellent Sting. Within the stretch, it was a matter of getting his lane on the skin of rivals and making his closing push in direction of the wire, profitable by a half-length in 1:49 3/5 at odds of 7-1. Excellent Sting held on for second however Bulldog Hanover had little left within the stretch and ended fourth.
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A 3-year-old Ontario-sired son of Shadow Play, Determined Man gained thrice as a two-year-old and had one earlier win this season. In final week’s elimination, he had raced sixth earlier than ending second with a late cost. The sport plan this time was to not be thus far again.
“I got here off (Excellent Sting’s) again and I noticed (Bulldog Hanover) was struggling,” Henry mentioned. “I believed then I had an awesome shot.”
“I do know they’re nice horses however I do know my horse can kick dwelling. I simply needed to sit lots nearer tonight.”
The couple of Kathy and John Cecchin purchased the horse in 2019 for $20,000. The couple function a 45-acre farm in Arthur, a hamlet west of Orangeville. The three-year-old son of Shadow Play is the one horse she trains. They co-own the horse with their daughter Nikki and her husband Paul Davies, who obtained their share of the horse as a marriage reward.
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Henry and his spouse Shannon are additionally from Arthur and are longtime buddies of the Cecchins. The soft-spoken driver was happy he was in a position to give them this thrill.
“There was quite a lot of stress,” Henry mentioned. “They’re nice folks and I didn’t need to allow them to down.”
OTHER ACTION: Earlier on the star-studded card, King of the North gained the $640,000 William Welwood Memorial. Mark MacDonald drove the two-year-old trotter who earned a spot within the Mohawk Million on Sept. 25.
Within the $425,000 Fan Hanover Stakes, Fireplace Begin Hanover and Scorching Mess Specific threw it down in a stretch battle with the previous prevailing in 1:50 1/5. Dexter Dunn drove for coach Nifty Norman.
Trend Frenzie took the $240,000 Goodtimes Stakes for three-year-old trotters. Louis-Philippe Roy drove the Richard Moreau-trained son of Archangel.
Within the $392,000 Peaceable Means, Venerable confirmed her dominance in a 1:54 3/5 win because the prohibitive 1-5 favorite. Dave Miller was within the sulky, giving Norman two coaching wins on the night time.
Stonebridge Helios took the two-year-old pacing colt division of the Champlain Stakes in 1:52 1/5 and Silver Label took the filly counterpart in 1:52 2/5.