Battleshoe Victor wins Levesque Memorial in 1:56.1

Michael Polansky’s Battleshoe Victor had the lead when it mattered on Wednesday, as the 5-year-old son of Valley Victor charged to the front in the shadow of the wire to capture the featured $14,000 Gerard “Lucky” Levesque Memorial Open Handicap Trot at Pompano Park in 1:56.1.

Starting from post six with Wally Hennessey at the lines, Battleshoe Victor was away quickly in Wednesday’s feature, but seemed content to settle in the pocket as Guy Gets Girl (Bruce Ranger) was rushed to the front, showing the way through fractions of :28.2, :59, and 1:27.1.

After turning back a first-over challenge from Railee Possible (Dan Clements), Guy Gets Girl entered the stretch with a three-quarter-length advantage, but had no answer for the Illinois-bred Battleshoe Victor, who found a clear lane to trot through in mid-stretch and closed with a rush to prevail by a head.

Battleshoe Victor returned $6.60, $3.00, and $2.40 for the victory. Guy Gets Girl paid $2.80 and $2.40 for second, while Railee Possible brought in $2.80 for third.

Trained by Tom Harmer, Battleshoe Victor has visited the winner’s circle in seven of 19 starts this year, including three of his last four, and owns a seasonal bankroll in excess of $80,000 with lifetime earnings of $173,755.

Wednesday’s feature from the South Florida oval was named in honor of longtime owner, trainer, and breeder Gerard “Lucky” Levesque, who passed away in April at the age of 75.

Levesque is best known as the breeder of HP Paque, the 2004 Breeders Crown Open Trot winner. In that same year, the Florida Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association honored Levesque with the Stanley Dancer Award in recognition for his outstanding work with trotters. (Pompano Park)

« Back