Harold Howe: Three great stories over one night of racing
Saturday's card of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park is easily the premier date on the racing calendar in all of Canada. There are many storylines involving those in pursuit of fame and fortune but three are particularly noteworthy.
It is possible that any of nine challengers could win the $1 million North America Cup but if someone does, it will come at the expense of Bulldog Hanover.
He is not there yet, but Bulldog Hanover is showing that he is at least a good racing horse and probably a very good racing horse with the very real possibility old being a great one. They do not come along every day but his last two starts have people thinking that way. He has won his last four efforts with ruthless efficiency thrashing his rivals with no mercy.
Jack Darling of Cambridge is the man who selected him for a mere $28,000 US as a yearling and developed him into the gorilla that he has become.
I have a certain type of horse I go looking for. He fit the bill and I would have gone to $50,000. I'm still not sure why he sold for less," says Darling from Classy Lane Stable Training Centre where he is based.
There was a time I was spending close to $100,000 for yearlings but it is so difficult to make money at the price. I'm not willing to compromise very much on conformation but will on pedigree. I think he is the best horse I've ever had. He's in the mould of Somebeachsomewhere who was maybe just a little big bigger but like him he has amazed me with his ability to handle a tough journey and still win."
Just under three months ago, Darling sold a half-interest to Brad Grant of Milton. It's looking like a win win for everyone.
Bulldog Hanover will be the prohibitive favourite among the three-year-old pacing colts from post four.
Adare Castle is a different story.
The two-year-old trotting filly will have her hands full in the $392,000 Peaceful Way stake, but she is a remarkable story.
Rockwood trainer Mark Etsell purchased her for just $10,000 US. It was a shocking price to Etsell who immediately doubted his decision.
She was one of a number I had earmarked at the sale in Maryland. She did not have the best video but was still very likable and I was prepared to go to $35,000. I'm still not sure why she went for what she did. She was great value for money. Sometimes luck shines on you."
Given she has won more than $200,000 already, it certainly has for Etsell and partners.
She is unbeaten in all five lifetime starts but in the Peaceful Way final she will face the menacing Venerable. This was a $210,000 blueblood yearling, and in the hands of New Jersey trainer Nifty Norman, she has been unstoppable with six consecutive wins. In her elimination last week she looked like a monster and suggested she might be superior to her male counterparts. But the connections of Adare Castle relish the challenge and it promises to be a barnburner too.
Then there is the $640,000 William Wellwood Memorial for two-year-old trotting colts.
There are several possible outcomes but a growing core of believers look to Duly Resolved for the John & Matt Bax Stable of Campbellville.
He has won five of six and $158,000 with improvement showing in every start. He was most impressive in his elimination when he battled the entire length of the home-stretch unwilling to give up the lead.
You cannot teach the fight in the dog as they say. I trained his sister and she had that, too," Bax says.
Cool Creek Farm of Mount Pleasant raised and sold the colt last fall for American breeders. The farm had a steady parade of visitors to inspect their consignment of yearlings but the Bax's were the only ones who zeroed in on Duly Resolved.
He had a bump on one leg which came from getting it wedged between a gate and gate post. The farm had it X-rayed and the bone was fine. There was swelling still but I was not that concerned about it. There could have been a suspensory issue but I did not think so," says Bax.
We figured he would be in our price range too. He stood much better in the front than his sister and just felt he was the way to go."
The price tag was $30,000 US so another successful venture.
I started to like him because of his gait in January. He has gotten noticeably longer since last September and that plays into the great gait he has. I keep saying I don't know where the bottom is with him as he just keeps showing us more every start."
Post three is where Duly Resolved will start from. The race is anything but a walkover, though. He will need even more than he has shown but there is plenty of incentive. With the first place money comes a free berth in the $1 million Mohawk Million stake. There is a great deal riding on this one.
For people who savour quality horse racing it will not get better than this. There will be fortunes made and dreams dashed by the end of the night. That is what harness racing is all about.
Harold Howe has been covering harness racing for five decades and has been a columnist for The Hamilton Spectator for 40 years.