SENATOR AGAIN TAKES
COMMAND
Red Star Senator was in a hurry to win
last Friday – and win he did, again.
The four-year-old son of Presidential
Ball ignored his post – the assigned outside seven – and
made it two straight victories in the premier event
(claiming $35,000, non-winners of $7,500 last six with open
pacers) of the weekend at Fraser Downs.
He now has a 4-2-3 record in 11 starts
in 2006, season earnings of $38,400, 15 lifetime wins and
more than $220,000 in career earnings.
Senator, the even-money favorite with
Jim Burke in the sulky, settled for fifth early but not for
long. He was out and on the move in front of the grandstand.
He made a big move down the backstretch and had moved to
second, a half-length back, at the three-quarter pole. He
never stopped as he rolled to a 1˝-length margin at the wire
in a time of 1:56.3.
Haras Colta Cola had a short stay in
the lead early but Accent Seelster, part of a 7-5
second-choice entry, took over the lead before the half and
was only caught by Senator. Sucha Smooth Deal, a 28-1 shot,
closed strongly for third, nipping El Toro at the wire.
Red Star Senator is owned by Mary
Murphy and trained by Bob Merschback.
COYOTE HOWLS: Coyote Hanover, a
six-year-old son of Western Hanover, was once again
impressive as he captured his third straight triumph for
trainer Wayne Isbister and driver Jim Marino last Friday.
Coyote Hanover bumped his 2006 earnings to more than $25,000
while winning the 24th race of his career.
Hippie Chick, a seven-year-old daughter
of Legal Notice, broke her run of second-place finishes
(three straight and six in 12 starts) with a win for driver
Jim Burke and trainer Billy Davis.
Follow Your Ideal, a three-year-old
daughter of Western Ideal, made it two in a row for
trainer/driver Serge Masse.
Trulyatyrant, a six-year-old son of
True Tyrant, won his sixth in 12 starts in 2006 and also
ended Red Star Dusty’s four-win streak for trainer/driver
Scott Knight.
Cassava, a five-year-old daughter of
Perfect Art, moved up in class but still continued to win,
making it three in a row last Saturday. Cassava is 12-4-1-3
in 2006 with the latest win for trainer Bob Merschback and
driver Jim Burke.
Red Star Turbulent, a six-year-old son
of Pacific Fella, won his second consecutive start for the
Merschback-Burke combo. He now has a 12-5-3-1 mark in 2006
and 20 career wins.
Chase The Weasel, a three-year-old son
of Dancing Puddles, covered the mile in a career best
2:01.1; Maxillas Future, a four-year-old daughter of Falcons
Future, won her fifth of 2006; Rodgertheodger, a
three-year-old son of Faldo Hanover, equaled his lifetime
mark of 1:58.4 despite an off track; Furness Abbey, a
seven-year-old son of Dal Reo Hop Sing, won his first of
2006 – by 7˝ lengths -- in his 12th start and Bre X, the
former track record holder, a nine-year-old son of Dal Reo
Hop Sing and making his second start of 2006, won his first
since 2004 (he had but five starts in 2005 because of
injury).
BURKE STAYS ON ROLL: Jim Burke
continues to make a late-meet move in the driver standings
at the Downs.
Burke had a handful of victories in
last weekend’s two days of racing to tie with Scott Knight.
The previous weekend Burke paced all drivers with seven
wins. Burke is fifth for the meet at 74 wins.
Jim Marino, the Downs’ winningest
pilot, had three triumphs, the same as Rick White who closed
to within two of 2,000 wins for his career. Andy Arsenault
picked up two victories.
Mike Bourgeois raced to his first
victory of 2006, and first since 2004, with a win aboard Red
Star Disco last Friday. A serious leg injury had reduced
Mike’s sulky action over the past couple of seasons.
Wayne Isbister was the best of all
trainers last weekend with four trips to the winner’s
enclosure. Bob Meschback had three wins and Knight was the
only other conditioner to have more than one. Ray MacKenzie
got his first victory of 2006 with Canya Ketchem.
COLEMAN REMAINS HOT: The stable
of trainer Casie Coleman continues to win at a torrid pace
on the Woodbine circuit and on Saturday night the
25-year-old became the circuit's first trainer of 2006 to
surpass the $1 million mark in earnings.
Coleman's latest claiming star, Red
Pop, marched his way to a 1:51 win in Woodbine's third race
on Saturday and his $14,000 payday vaulted Coleman's season
earnings at WEG into seven digit territory.
Coleman, who was Canada's trainer of
the year in 2005, became the nation's first female trainer
to make $1 million in a single season in 2005 and earlier
this year she became Canada's first trainer, regardless of
gender, to reach the $1 million mark.
Coleman’s totals are: 2006: 76 wins -
$1,172,324 - .459 U.T.R.S; 2005: 196 wins - $547,735 - .396
U.T.R.S; lifetime: 480 wins - $5,318,190.
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