Shockers in Champlains

Finishing with a furious flurry, Invincible Sun posted a 42-1 upset in the first division of the Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and gelding Sunday night at Mohawk. Trained and co-owned by Chris Beaver, Invincible Son trotted from last at the top of the stretch and blew past heavily favored Australian Stock to win the $107,385(C) event in 1:59.4.

“He shown a ton of speed, he trotted that last half in :58.3 at Flamboro last time,” said winning driver Trevor Ritchie. “His manners had been catching up to him but Chris has done a wonderful job with him. He changed a couple of things with him this week and that helped him out.”

Ritchie, who had driven the son of Yankee Glide – Consuela Lobell in his last three races, elaborated on what was adjusted for the colt.

“(Chris) changed the bit in his mouth, he was getting a bit too aggressive and the (new) bit and that seemed to settle him down.”

Australian Stock delayed the start of the race by 15 minutes after springing a shoe in the warm-up. Once the shoe was replaced, that colt trotted to an early lead, set soft fractions of :29, 1:00.1 and 1:30.3 but could not hold off the charging Invincible Son.

The winner, who is also owned by James McLaughlin of Kentucky, was picking up his first win in his fifth career start and paid $86.60, $16.80, $8.00 across the board.

Continuing an evening of Champlain Stakes upsets, red-hot driver Jody Jamieson angled 45-1 shot Laddie out of last place with an eighth of a mile to go and rushed past eight rivals to win the second of the Champlain Stakes. The 2-year-old son of Angus Hall – Victory Dreamer was winning his maiden in the $109.385(C) event, his third career start.

“Paul MacDonell (who had qualified the colt) told me that I picked up a real nice horse,” said Jamieson, who was driving the Wellwood Stables’ colt for the first time.

“I got a real nice trip,” said Jamieson. “I couldn’t get out for a bit but when I got him out, he took off and trotted hard.”

Laddie, trained by Paula Wellwood, lit up the Mohawk tote board when he paid $92.60, $27.40 and $12.90. Celtic Warrior, who had an ideal, covered up trip and led late in the mile, finished second. The final time was 1:59.3.

Benefiting from a shrewd journey behind a hot pace, heavily favored Quite Easy sped to a comfortable win the third division of the Champlain Stakes. The impressive rookie son of Andover Hall – Maritas Victory was first-over in the $107,345(C) contest and quickly inhaled pacemaker Good Knight turning for home and strolled to the win over the charging tandem of Think Gold and Baracay .

Owned by the Quite East Partners of Versailles, Ky. and trained by Jimmy Takter, Quite Easy, steered by John Campbell, stopped the clock in a lifetime best of 1:57.2. It was the fifth win in seven career starts for Quite Easy and the fourth consecutive score. (WEG)

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