Champlain Stakes action at Mohawk

Windsong Espoir just missed the stakes record with a scintillating 1:56 victory in one of four Champlain Stakes divisions for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters tonight at Mohawk Racetrack.

The Steve Condren in tow, the son of Kadabra - Diamond Image made his move to the front in the second quarter of his $91,412 division and then cruised to a dominant win over McCarron and Hit The Mark.

“He was pretty green when I moved him over to the front," said driver Steve Condren. "Last week he had cover until deep in the stretch. We’re just trying to teach him what it’s all about. He’s a big growthy colt, and he still has a few things to learn.”

It was only the third lifetime start for Windsong Espoir who is trained by Brad Maxwell for owners Jerry Vanboekel, Peter Heffering William Loyens and Dr. Michael Wilson. The colt, who was coming off a win in the final of the Bridger Trotting Series, increased his seasonal take to just over $70,000 with the win.

In the opening $89,413 division, Surtees Hanover regained his winning ways with an off-the-pace score for driver David Miller in 1:57.4. The son of Andover Hall - Sharise Seelster, who was coming off a second-place finish in the Peter Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands, edged out Di Manggio and race favourite B Strike Three.

“Right off the bat he was good gaited and sure footed and he always showed signs of talent,” said driver David Miller. “He’s pretty handy and has a good head. Those are two big helpers. We didn’t get to qualify him as much as we wanted to leading up to this race because the track was bad [at Chester Downs on August 21], but he’s a class act and he got the job done tonight. This isn’t the first time he’s opened our eyes.”

Tonight’s win was the fifth in six tries this season for the Jonas Czernyson trainee and boosted his seasonal bankroll to just shy of the $200,000 mark for the Robert Rosenheim Stables Ltd. of Sharon, Ct.

Intimidator, another son of Andover Hall, captured the third division for driver Rick Zeron in an identical 1:57.4 clocking. After taking command approaching three-quarters, the colt trotted to a convincing win over Celebrity Rocky and Larpege.

It was the second win in five starts this season for Intimidator who was making his first start for new trainer Carl Porcelli. He had recently been purchased for a reported six-figure price by Jon Lewis of Yorktown, In.

Tonight’s other divisions went to OSS standout Keystone Titan (Mr Lavec - Trista Seelster) in 1:59. He cruised to an easy win over Smoking Gun and Mr Mission and increased his seasonal earnings to just over $130,000 for trainer John Kopas and owners George Hempt and Alice Kopas.

The Champlain Stakes continue tomorrow night at Mohawk with the two-year-old filly trotters competing in another quartet of divisions. First post is at 7:20 p.m. (Mohawk)

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