Trucker, Dudett win stakes at Sandown
Meekos Trucker has a name which
suggests power and stamina but he is also showing he has a
turn of speed as well.
The three-year-old son of Storm
Compensation out of Songmaraud registered a mild upset last
Saturday to capture the $20,700 Oaktree final at Sandown
Park.
Sent off at 5-1 (fourth choice in the
field of eight), Meekos Trucker popped out of the three-hole
just after the half and quickly drove to the front. With
trainer David Hudon in the bike, Meekos Trucker cleared to
the lead on the final turn and powered home to a 1¼-length
win over Da Lil Dude in a lifetime best time of 1:56.2. Sail
The Sevenseas, part of the 6-5 favored entry, finished
third.
Owned by Shale Stables of Langley, the
win was Meekos Trucker’s fourth in seven starts this year.
The colt, who finished second in his Oaktree elimination
last week, has made $17,391 in 2004. However, to say his
two-year-old season was uneventful would probably be putting
it mildly.
Hudon admitted the colt surprised him a
little. “No, I really didn’t think he would be this good,”
referring to his Oaktree performance.
“I had only driven him once before the
Oaktree elimination and I thought that (such a strong
showing) might come later on.
“He raced huge and he looks like he
could develop into a real good horse.”
Hudon will give him a week off and then
prepare him for the Dogwood eliminations on Aug.1.
It was not the first stakes win for
Shale (Al and Shelley Eng) as they had wins with
Pulledsuspensory and Quarter Crack. But Shelley explained
with a big grin that, “It gets better every time.”
It took an inquiry to decide the
ultimate winner in the $20,400 Arbutus for three-year-old
fillies the following day at Sandown.
Rustle For It, owned, trained and
driven by Richard Craig, crossed the finish line a
half-length ahead of 3-5 favorite Dal Lil Dudett but fell
victim to an inquiry.
The judges’ ruling was that Rustle For
It caused interference in the first turn and she was placed
back to fourth.
That left Dudett the winner as she
continued to pile up the earnings. The victory gave the
three-year-old daughter of Apaches Game out of South Ferry
more than $85,000 in earnings in 2004 and almost $124,000 in
her career. Dudett is owned by the Lil Dude Ranch of Surrey
and is trained and driven by Larry Micallef.
Miss St Labush, Dudett and Red Star
Suesue battled for the early lead with the former holding a
half-length lead at the quarter. Meanwhile, Rustle For It
had settled into fourth after the interference with Red Star
Cowgirl.
Dudett had the lead by the half and was
now in a battle with Sharons Pass. They stayed that way
until Rustle made a big move at the head of the stretch and
came onto to catch a game Dudett just before the wire. With
the taking down of Rustle For It, Sharons Pass was placed
second and Cowgirl third.
The win was the fourth in 11 starts in
2004 for Dudett who was named the top filly in B.C. in
2003.
GAGNE SHOWS STUFF: J.F. Gagne
made the best of his busman’s holiday last weekend as he led
all drivers with three wins at Sandown. Gagne is a regular
at Northlands and Stampede in Alberta but while on a break
drove for the two days at Sandown.
Seven steerers tied for second with two
victories apiece: Larry Micallef, Dave Hudon, Chris Adamson,
Scott Knight, Jim Marino, Rick White and Rod Therres.
Hudon, Knight, White and Adamson each
had two wins to lead the trainer category.
Speaking of Stampede Park, their
harness meet gets under way next Friday. Micallef will join
Bill Davis as B.C. trainer/drivers at the Calgary meet.
BODEN BUYING: Owner Bill Boden
of Vancouver, who races horses in B.C., Alberta and Ontario,
purchased four at the recent Tattersalls July Mixed Sale in
the U.S.
Boden parted with $76.000 US as he got
Carson Jane, a Cambest mare for $37,000, Paradise of Grins,
a Grimfromeartoear mare for $21,000, Four Starzzz Scape, an
Artiscape mare for $9,000 and I’m An Old Cowpan, a Rustler
Hanover gelding for $9,000. Look for the possibility of at
least one showing up in the Hudon barn in B.C.
-30-
