Wellwood elims held

Quite Easy was the handiest of winners in the first of three $30,000 eliminations in the William Wellwood Memorial Trot, Sunday night at Mohawk. John Campbell drove the Andover Hall colt to the 2 ¾-length victory for trainer Jimmy Takter and Quite Easy Partners of Versailles, Ky.

Parked early through a :28.1 clip, Quite Easy got to the front before the half-mile mark (:59.2) and never looked back, posting a final clocking of 1:57.3. Chuckie Lang, a 34-1 longshot, led early and held on to second by a half-length over another longshot (41-1), the hard-charging Manfinity.

"(Quite Easy) was able to get the front easily,” Campbell said. “I was very happy with his race. He's going into the final in very good form. He's very easy to drive and very professional at his work. I haven't opened up the throttle on him yet, but I'm sure we'll have to next week."

Laddie, buried at the back of the pack early was a blur in the stretch to take the second division of the Wellwood, to the tune of $66.90. That near last-to-first effort combined with a similar late charge from Libra Vita (17-1), who was second, the third-place finisher 12-1 shot Smarty Jims and Got that Look (6-1), the fourth-place horse, returned a $1 superfecta of $71,423.

One bettor played a $.20 ‘super’ ticket to take the whole pool, cashing approximately $14,284.

Paul MacDonell drove the Angus Hall colt to the 2 ¾-length tally in 1:58.2 for trainer Paula Wellwood and Wellwood Stables Inc. of Cambridge.

“He's putting it all together now,” said MacDonell. “He tended to lose attention at times, but he's improving. This colt trots over the ground very nice. I don't see why he can't trot with the best ones."

Tymal Cherub was quickest of the three Wellwood elimination winners, nailing down a spot in the final with a 1:56.4 mile.

Mike Saftic guided the Mr. Lavec colt to a one-length score over Think Gold. Chelemark Porter was third, beaten 2 ½ lengths.

Guelph resident Gregg McNair, who owns Tymal Cherub in partnership with Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke and 1443059 Ontario Inc of Oldcastle, trained the bay to his third lifetime win.

"When he started at the beginning of the year, he was one of Gregg's top colts," said Saftic. "He got to making breaks, so they rigged him up with trotting hopples. He has shown improvement with them on. He really took off when I pulled him off the rail tonight. He got a little tired in the lane, but he went the fastest elimination trip."

The lucrative final, worth $525,200(C), is set for next Monday, Sept. 18. (WEG)

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