Jimmy Freight keeps getting better.
The seven-year-old matched his lifetime best of 1:48.1 while beating three of his future opponents in the Camluck Classic – Tattoo Artist, American History, and Funatthebeach N – on Saturday (May 14) in the $39,000 Woodbine Mohawk Park Free-for-All.
The stallion sat fourth early as U.S. shippers Tattoo Artist (James MacDonald) and American History (Doug McNair) streaked away at the front. The former led the field to the quarter in :27 before the latter pocket-popped and took command on the backside in a :54.1 half.
Funatthebeach N (Jody Jamieson) cut four lengths away from the 10-length gap between he and the top two as the field steamed to three-quarters in 1:21.2, which left Jimmy Freight nearly eight lengths to make up in the final split. Louis-Philippe Roy swung Jimmy Fright to open racetrack as they straightened for home, and the stallion turned on his famous “Jimmy Jets”. He overtook Funatthebeach N in mid-stretch and surged past Tattoo Artist in the final 1/16th for his fifth consecutive victory.
Tattoo Artist was three quarters of a length short, but he held off Funatthebeach N for place. The winner paid $3.50.
Jimmy Freight’s 1:48.1 time equaled his previous career best, which he set as a four-year-old. The son of Sportswriter returned to the track in late 2021 after taking two years off to breed. He has now won nine of his 15 attempts this season, including seven of his past eight starts at Mohawk Park’s premier level. Richard Moreau trains him for Adriano Sorella of Guelph. The stallion, who stands stud as he races, has won 30 times in his 69-race career and has made $1,633,125.
Jimmy Freight, Tattoo Artist, American History, and Funatthebeach N are all confirmed starters for the $150,000 Camluck Classic on May 27 at The Raceway at Western Fair District. Tattoo Artist is a millionaire son of Hes Watching and has won two legs of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at Yonkers this season. Funatthebeach N won the $549,000 Borgata Final and is six-for-17 this year. American History, a 2019 Breeders Crown champion, has earned $1.4 million lifetime and also competed in the Borgata Series. There are four more unknown entrants to the Camluck Classic.
Woodbine Mohawk Park also hosted the SBOA Stakes eliminations for three-year-old fillies on Saturday. There were two contests for trotters and one for pacers; each was worth $25,000. Every winner lowered their lifetime mark.
Adare Castle (MacDonald) won the first trotting division convincingly at 1/9 odds after a backstretch brush in 1:54.2 in her season’s debut. Mischievous Rose (Bob McClure) finished two and a quarter lengths back in second, well clear of Clockwork Orange (Austin Sorrie) and Saundra (Sylvain Filion), who were third and fourth, respectively.
Mark Etsell conditions the winner, a Muscle Mass filly, and co-owns her with Robert Newton of Walkerton, Graham Hopkins of Chesley, and Peter Porter of Port Dover. The winner of four Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events and her division’s Super Final as a two-year-old is now eight-for-10 lifetime with $498,537 in earnings.
Resolving (Trevor Henry) conquered the other split for trotters in similar style; the daughter of Resolve kicked away after a move to the lead on the backside and was two and three quarter lengths the best in her first outing of the season. Lillys Lass (MacDonald) took second over third-place finisher Makin Magic Tonight (McClure) and Rose Run Xcentric (Jamieson), who was fourth.
The winner, a Robert Don Fellows trainee, was clocked in 1:55.3. It was Resolving’s second career tally in 10 tries. She has earned $136,490 for owners Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood, Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, and Edward Wilson of Seagrave.
Dewitt For Josie (Jamieson) found room late after a pocket trip in the pacing division and was just in time to nab In The Mood (McNair) for the victory in 1:53. In The Mood missed by a head. Quebecoise (Travis Cullen) picked up 13 lengths in the final quarter and got up for third over I Love Ongait (Roy). Dewitt For Josie’s win was her first this season in three attempts.
Rene Bourassa, who lives in Fergus, trains the Sportswriter offspring and shares ownership with Gilles Caouette of Sudbury. The filly has now won four times in her 12 lifetime starts and has raked in $70,975 for her connections.