SBSW ready to go in Simcoe division

Fans of the most dominant pacing colt to grace a North American racetrack in 30 years will have another opportunity to witness greatness on Saturday night, as Somebeachsomewhere goes postward in the second of two $132,326(C) flights of the Simcoe Stakes at Mohawk.

The strapping son of Mach Three, who has amassed a record of 14 wins in 15 starts, has two world records to his name as well as two O’Brien Awards. His only defeat came in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace in July, when Art Official managed to poke a nose in front of "Beach" at the wire, in a stunning world-record 1:47 effort. Many have argued that it was, in fact, the greatest race of his career so far, so no other colt has managed to come anywhere close to Somebeachsomewhere.

Rated at 1-5 in the morning line, Beach’s odds will likely decline further as fans prepare to watch another patented front-end conquering at the hands of regular linesman, Paul MacDonell. Trainer/co-owner Brent MacGrath reports that the colt is fighting fit and ready to do battle.

Six other colts, including the well-regarded Dali and Deuce Seelster, will be going up against Somebeachsomwhere (race #8, post time 9:57 p.m.).

The first Simcoe flight (race #2, post time 7:51 p.m.) features a match-up between Santanna Blue Chip and Keystone Horatio, both of whom have spent their careers in Somebeach’s shadow. Santanna Blue Chip's connections are trainer/co-owner Carl Jamieson and partners Jeff Gillis and George Arthur. Keystone Horatio can boast a win in the $165,821 Canadian Breeders’ Championship at Mohawk in July, and is currently leading the standings for his division in the Ontario Sire Stakes program, with 200 Gold points and $180,000 earned in OSS contests, for conditioner John Kopas and owner/breeder George Hempt.

The Simcoe Stakes is just one of the highlights on a stakes-laden Saturday night card, which also features a pair of eliminations for the $1 million Canadian Trotting Classic and two divisions of the Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old pacers. (WEG) 

« Back