Shipps Xpectancy ties stake record, Straight Shooting in 2nd div

September 13, 2008

Even though Mohawk was listed as sloppy Saturday night, Shipps Xpectancy wasted no time in the first division of the $194,600 Nassagaweya Stakes and tied the stakes record of 1:51.1.

Randy Waples pointed Shipps Xpectancy straight to the front but yielded to Nicholas C Hanover (Jody Jamieson) by the :26.4 opening quarter. Shipps Xpectancy popped the pocket before the :55.3 half to retake the lead, drew off to the 1:23.2 three quarters and continued to roll down the stretch.

Well Said and Ron Pierce came on late down the lane to get up for second, Scottie C (Tim Tetrick) finished third.

�It�s a huge mile, but it wasn�t unexpected by either me or John or me,� said Waples. �We knew all along, from the time he schooled how nice a horse he was�As muddy as it is, it�s a lot cleaner up front than it is in the back.�

Pulling the 10-1 upset, Shipps Xpectancy tied the stakes record, interestingly set by his sire, Mach Three in 2001. The two-year-old brown gelding is owned by the Harold G Shipp Stable of Mississauga, Ontario. Trained by John Kopas, Shipps Xpectancy now has two wins in seven starts this year; tonights win being a new lifetime mark. Shipps Xpectancy now has over $135,000 in earnings.

In the second division of the Nassagaweya Stakes, Straight Shooting and John Campbell dominated, coming first up at the half to win in 1:52.3.

Count on Art (Rick Zeron) was the first to show speed out of the gate with Artists Rally (Jody Jamieson) taking the lead at the :27.3 opening quarter. Carpe Diem (Paul MacDonell) made the top as Straight Shooting started the outer flow at the :56.4 half. Ron Pierce followed that cover with Carnivore, but Straight Shooting was no match, winning by a length. Count on Art found room late to finish second with Carnivore coming on for third and Best Dream Seeker (Luc Ouellette) getting fourth.

�I think that�s as good as he�s been, although in the elimination of the Metro he was just racing tremendous,� said Campbell. �He was pacing home right in :26 flat, maybe a shade better, when he had the hopple come undone on him. But he�s improving; he�s certainly a very easy colt to drive for all the inexperience. He�s very easy, very relaxed. He just sat out there and when I asked him to pace he gave me a very strong run finishing.

�A lot of these colts, when they find out they can go fast they want to do it at the wrong time of the mile,� Campbell continued. �He just sat out there, was very relaxed, no wasted energy and when I called on him he responded very well�This is a big, strong colt and I expect him to go on and get better.�

Richard �Nifty� Norman trains the two-year-old Western Terror colt for Bulletproof Enterprises. He now has over $194,000 in earnings this year.

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