by Brett Sturman
By now, you’re most likely bored with listening to that the game’s massive occasions look “completely different” this 12 months, or “uncommon.” Whereas appropriate, it’s usually in response to enhanced protocols or conducting racing in entrance of few or no followers. Such would be the case for Saturday’s 13-race card at Woodbine Mohawk Park, however one other side that may look a lot completely different than in 12 months’s previous is the motive force colony.
Final 12 months’s card featured names by the likes of Tetrick, Sears, Zeron, Dunn, Miller and so forth which is usually what this card sees yearly, however that received’t be the case this time. On account of restrictions and all types of logistical points round journey between the nations through the pandemic, the one U.S.-based driver that can be taking part on Saturday’s card can be Yannick Gingras. He drives Pepsi North America Cup favourite Tall Darkish Stranger.
Consequently, the robust driving colony that you just’d see on any common evening of the week at Woodbine is represented in full all through all the main stake races. The one Canadian-based drivers in final 12 months’s North America Cup had been Sylvain Filion and Bob McClure. They’re each represented on this 12 months’s version, and each are on 3-year-olds with possibilities.
Dave Landry | Bob McClure opted to stay with Tattoo Hanover in Saturday’s Pepsi North America Cup remaining over elimination winner Captain Kirk.
For McClure, final 12 months’s Dan Patch Rising Star winner, he drove elimination winner Captain Kirk final week however curiously is on a special colt for the ultimate, Tattoo Artist. That’s one thing you don’t see typically; opting off an elimination winner for an additional horse that’s sure to be far increased in odds. “I had been supplied (Captain Kirk) three weeks earlier than, and I informed them that I used to be going to stay with Tattoo Artist it doesn’t matter what,” McClure mentioned. “They went with different drivers, clearly making an attempt to get a primary alternative, and Mark (MacDonald) ended up not having the ability to come final week (MacDonald was listed on the in a single day entries to drive Captain Kirk previous to McClure being named driver at time of ultimate driver selections). And so, on Captain Kirk they mentioned simply get him within the remaining and do the perfect I might, and clearly he raced implausible. However I used to be nonetheless going with Tattoo Artist. Not simply due to the loyalty, however I feel he was simply as spectacular in his elimination as Captain Kirk was.”
Tattoo Artist completed fifth in his elimination shedding by a size and 1 / 4 however had visitors points all through the complete stretch. “With Tattoo, I jerked him sideways about 4 instances and he nonetheless had sufficient to get into the ultimate, so I used to be fairly impressed with him. He’s bought pretty much as good a shot as anyone, and I wouldn’t commerce him for anyone proper now,” McClure mentioned.
These looks as if bold phrases coming from McClure, however he received final 12 months’s Hambletonian with a 15-1 shot and that’s the neighborhood through which Tattoo Artist is prone to go off at. Tall Darkish Stranger will seemingly go off within the space of 4-5 and along with being quick, he’s earned a fame as a horse with guts. Everybody is aware of about his Meadowlands Tempo stretch comeback, however he was simply as spectacular in his elimination final week. Everybody took their shot at him together with Odds On Osiris who had the size of the stretch to get by on his inside, and Tall Darkish Stranger lasted for each inch that he needed to. He’s the almost certainly winner, however there’s a number of expertise on this area.
Capt Midnight simply missed towards Tall Darkish Stranger final week whereas getting a second over journey. He rallied belatedly to be second to that very same rival within the Cane Tempo two again and is rounding again into his higher type. Jody Jamieson will decide up the reside drive on elimination winner Captain Kirk. He beat Tall Darkish Stranger three again however then was no match for him within the Cane. He did present resilience to maintain coming final week towards Allywag Hanover who regarded gone on the high of the stretch, however I feel both of these would wish a contact extra to get the highest prize. Captain Barbossa lands a nasty put up and can be an enormous longshot as soon as once more however was splitting horses late with tempo in his elimination.
Along with the North America Cup, McClure has possibilities all through the opposite wealthy finals. Within the $400,000 Fan Hanover, McClure drives Laura’s Love, a filly he is aware of nicely. In her elimination received by undefeated Occasion Lady Hill, Laura’s Love tipped widest into the stretch and closed with a remaining quarter of :25.1 in a race the place she narrowly missed third. She now strikes virtually all the best way inside and isn’t out of the query.
“She’s just a little filly however is extraordinarily quick,” mentioned McClure. She’s one in all my favorites as a result of she’s probably not fairly gaited – she form of paces like how Wiggle It Jiggleit used to – however extraordinarily quick and she or he tries very onerous. Her final begin in an OSS Gold race over a nasty (sloppy rated) monitor at Grand River, she had each proper to get beat and she or he simply refused to. She’s undoubtedly able to going with these fillies.”
Occasion Lady Hill goals for eight in a row in her unbeaten profession, however this can be her stiffest take a look at up to now. Holding sway final week, Peaky Sneaky posted a profession greatest mile and did so whereas slugging it out by a quick third panel and nonetheless having sufficient left to win going away comfortably. Woman Lou took it to Occasion Lady Hill in her elimination and regarded for a second as if she had been going to go by; Jamieson will get the return name and she or he might be there with a well-timed transfer.
Whereas McClure has potential, albeit outdoors possibilities, within the North America Cup and Fan Hanover, he’ll have a few the shorter priced contenders within the Armbro Flight and Roses Are Purple. Choosing up drives on Plunge Blue Chip and Soho Burning Love, these are mares that McClure has by no means pushed beforehand.
When requested how he prepares for drives on horses he hasn’t beforehand pushed, McClure attributed a number of his preparation in direction of race replays. “You will get a tip from the coach and issues like that, however for essentially the most half the video replays are your greatest asset.” Equally, so far as technique for the first-time drives, McClure mentioned “You undoubtedly construct an thought of a technique, however 9 instances out of 10 you’re going for Plan B and C leaving the gate. You’ve gotten a plan in your thoughts, and also you get an thought for what the opposite horses and drivers would possibly do, however when the gate folds you’re scrambling. Particularly with these two, they appear like they’ve their very own types. We’ll see the way it goes leaving from the gate.”
