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 Sir Luck winner of the $1.1 million Metro Pace. |
Dateline: 08/31/02
Sir Luck, the only Ontario-sired two-year-old colt in the nine-horse field, took top honors in the $1.1 million Metro Pace Saturday at Woodbine, on closing day of Woodbine's summer harness meeting. With driver Mike Saftic, Sir Luck pulled of a major surprise as the 6-1 fifth choice in the second richest harness race in Canada, behind only the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup. The Metro lost the 3-1 morning line favorite when Lasting Luck, winner of the fastest elimination last Saturday, was scratched due to a virus.
Trained by veteran Bill Budd of Carlisle, Ontario, Sir Luck took an early lead before tucking into third for most of the mile, as Articulator and Bradley Hall battled on the front end through a half-mile in :54 1/5. After putting in extra steps, Bradley Hall, a $225,000 yearling purchase and one of three Bob McIntosh-trained Metro hopefuls, broke stride going into the far turn. That promoted Articulator and driver Doug Brown back in front through 3/4 in 1:23.
As the field straightened for home, Saftic hustled Sir Luck to the outside and forged to the front in mid-stretch. The son of Camluck then had more than enough left to hold off a closing 12-1 longshot Brooklyn Hanover, winning by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:51 3/5. Keystone Rodeo, who went postward a slight 5-2 favorite with John Campbell, finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Back in third was Keystone Rodeo, also trained by Bob McIntosh, who extends his losing streak to 18 in the Metro Pace.
It was the sixth win in a very busy 10-race campaign for Sir Luck, who entered the Metro as the field's leading money winner with $243,076, most of which was banked in winning Ontario-sired gold finals. An incredibly consistent colt, Sir Luck hasn't finished worse than fourth all year. Owned by C and I Siegel Racing Stable of Brooklyn, New York, Sir Luck picked up a monster purse of $550,000 to push his season earnings to just shy of $800,000.
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Purse: $1,100,000 Distance: 1 mile pace
Pgm Horse Driver Win Place Show 6 Sir Luck Saftic 15.40 6.70 3.50 5 Brooklyn Hanover Lesford 9.20 5.10 2 Keystone Rodeo Campbell 2.70
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Sir Luck and his connections in the winner's circle.
Trainer Budd, owner Siegel, and driver Saftic celebrate the win. Saftic said: "He's been a good colt all along and he showed it tonight. Billy Budd did a good job. He (Sir Luck) started the year off as the colt to beat, winning his first sires stake at Windsor, in a good effort. Heading into the lane (tonight), he felt good and strong. I thought I'd get by Doug Brown but I didn't know what was behind so I just kept driving him." It was Saftic's first win in a million-dollar race and his first Metro victory.
Sir Luck warming up earlier in the evening.
Second place finisher Brooklyn Hanover warming up earlier in the evening. He went off at almost 13-1.
Third place finisher and post time favorite Keystone Rodeo in the post parade.
Real Desire, the overwhelming 1-5 betting choice with driver John Campbell, stormed down the stretch to capture the historic $845,500 Canadian Pacing Derby Saturday at Woodbine. Despite being the overwhelming favourite, Real Desire had to work hard for the win. He was sixth early on, then moved to the outside around the far turn, chasing Camotion and Electric Stena, who were battling on the front end into the stretch. In mid-stretch, Campbell had Real Desire fourth on the outside before a late explosive move got the job done. At the wire, the four-year-old son of Life Sign was 1 3/4 lengths better than Four Starzzz Shark, with Electric Stena outnodding Camotion for third, in a brilliant mile time of 1:49 4/5.
"He had to work hard, but he's a easy horse to drive. He's very determined and that makes my job very easy," said Campbell. "That determination is what separates the great ones from those that have ability, but just don't realize their potential. He's raced at the top level at (ages) two, three and four and in this day and age and the speed they go, it's just amazing."
With the winner's share of $422,750, Real Desire becomes the second richest pacer of all time (behind Gallo Blue Chip), with career earnings of $3,267,774. By improving his record this year to 8 wins in 10 starts, he has likely clinched Canadian Horse of the Year honors and is a leading contender for a similar title in the United States.
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Purse: $845,500 Distance: 1 mile pace
Pgm Horse Driver Win Place Show 3 Real Desire Campbell 2.70 2.10 2.10 7 Four Starzzz Shark Morrill 5.60 3.70 6 Electric Stena Condren 4.00
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Real Desire and his connections in the winner's circle.
Driver John Campbell and trainer Blair Burgess celebrate with the trophy.
Real Desire in the post parade with driver John Campbell.
Trainer Blair Burgess takes Real Desire out for a leisurely walk around the track early in the evening.
Photos ©2002 Cindy Pierson Dulay, licensed to About.
