Hudon red hot, big payouts and more tidbits of racing
news
Dave Hudon had the biggest night of his racing career
last Saturday as he drove six winners, including four horses
he trains. Hudon's wins came with Sunalta Paddy in the
third, Bre X in the fourth, Scruffier in the fifth, Legal
Player in the 10th, Red Star Justice in the 12th and Doctor
N in the 13th. He also had a second in five other starts.
"It's the most wins I've ever had (on a card)," Hudon
said the next day. "I think the best I did before was five."
"It's very exciting," he admitted and when asked if her
considered it an accomplishment he said "exactly."
"When you get four of those out of your own barn it's a
bonus. Everybody likes to win and you always hope some will
come from your barn."
Hudon's big night pushed him into the lead for wins at
the meet. With his one triumph Friday he now has 22, four
more than Tim Brown who had three on the weekend, the same
as Jim Burke.
Trainer Wayne Isbister was another who had a fine
weekend. He harnessed five winners, three on Friday, and now
has a meet-leading 12. Hudon had his four and Brent Beelby
had three.
SAMANTHA, CRUIZIN MEET, DO WELL: B.C.'s dynamic duo of
pacing mares -- Samantha Square and Fast Lane Cruizin --
finally got to battle and, although neither won, they were
far from embarrassed.
They were in a field of eight which tangled in a $50,000
purse fillies and mares open last Friday at Woodbine in
Toronto. Samantha Square finished second and Cruizin was
fourth.
Samantha, owned by Rick White and John and June Kauffman,
was fifth at the half and although she covered the last
quarter in 27.3 could not close on winner Cathedra Dot Com.
The winning time was 1:54.3 on a track rated only as good.
Cruizin, owned by Phil Coleman and Jerry Blanchet, was
making only her fifth start of 2002 and raced evenly while
making every call in fourth. She came home in 27.2 seconds.
NICE WAGERING: There were more nice payouts at the Downs
last weekend. On Friday there was a $386.70 Exactor and a
$3556.10 Tri when 25-1 shot Mattsolut won and combined with
True Tyrants Image and Prince Lee Gourmet in the 10th. On
Saturday, even better when Jay Tee Lucas won in the first
and joined with 60-1 shot Tahuya Floyd and Red Star Digger
for a $946.50 Exactor and $8,861.70 Tri. Then there was 70-1
shot Salus Shri's win payoff of $159.10 in the 14th, leading
to a $216.00 Exactor and $7,543.40 Superfecta.
IN ALBERTA TOO: Bill Davis, known in these parts as The
Dominator for his driving and training exploits, could be
referred to in Alberta as The Dominator Too.
After travelling to Edmonton to compete at Northlands
Park where he had an excellent meet, Davis moved to
Calgary's Stampede Park. With Calgary ending its meet last
weekend, Davis returned to his hometown of Surrey, but not
before he had stolen the show in Cowtown.
Davis made 262 starts as a driver at Stampede Park and
won 78 times. That was 21 more than Keith Clark, his closest
rival. He had a universal driver rating system of .425 and a
win percentage of 29 (Clark was next at .338 and 20).
On the trainer's side Davis had 47 wins to Clark's 45
with Davis making 35 fewer starts. That gave Davis a UTRS of
.489 and a win percentage of 34. (Clark was .402 and 26).
EDMONTON GETS FALL MEET: Northlands Park in Edmonton has
been granted a 15 day fall harness meet. The meet will begin
on Nov. 13 running until Dec. 14 with three cards of racing
per week - Wednesday and Friday nights with Saturday matinee
programs.
The purse structure will be approximately $65,000 per
card for a total of nearly $1 million. The granting of the
dates came after the track agreed to a contract with the
Alberta Standardbred Horse Association. The Calgary meet
ended last weekend.
Some Alberta trainers -- Jack Beelby, Bobby Clark, Brad
Watt and Doug Stout -- are expected to compete in B.C.
instead and several others are expected after the Edmonton
meet.
VINNELL VICTORIOUS: Langley's Jim Vinnell was a happy man
after Stampede Park's holiday Oct. 14 racing card. Horses
owned or leased by Vinnell finished one, three and four in
the $40,000 Rocky Mountain Stake final for three-year-olds.
Landmark Hall, a Cambest-Lindwood Starlator gelding,
wired the field for Bill Davis with a 1:54.4 mile. The
margin was a little more than a length over Token Favourite,
driven by Bill Tainsh. Mattnifesto was 2 1/2 lengths back
with Westwood Ho fourth.
Landmark Hall has won seven of 17 races and $141,000 on
the season. The three-horse entry was an odds-on favourite
and paid $3.10 to win.
All three of Vinnell's horses have been shipped to
compete in Ontario.
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