Laughandbehappy delivers in Milton Stakes final
Campbellville, ON --- WEG’s leading driver, Jody Jamieson, used a pocket trip to his advantage as he guided Laughandbehappy to a 1:50.2 score in the C$400,000 Milton Stakes final on Saturday evening (September 24) at Mohawk.
Anndrovette (Tim Tetrick), one of last week’s elimination winners, led nine rivals past the opening station in :26.3. Laughandbehappy was in the two-hole, with Maureen Rocks (Scott Zeron) sitting third and Warrawee Koine (Luc Ouellette) parked on the outside.
Anndrovette, a daughter of Badlands Hanover, was able to tap the breaks heading to the half as she passed that station in :55.4. Warrawee Koine was stalking the leader on the outside, with last year’s Milton Stakes winner, Dreamfair Eternal (Randy Waples), catching her cover.
As the top distaffers passed three-quarters in 1:24.1, Warrawee Koine began to tire first-over as the backfield was closing in on the tempo-setter.
Down the stretch, Randy Waples angled Dreamfair Eternal three-wide as she began to advance, but Maureen Rocks interfered with Canada’s 2010 Horse of the Year and caused her to make a break.
Jody Jamieson was able to show Laughandbehappy clear racetrack in deep stretch and the 27-time winner responded off a golden trip to steal the victory over Anndrovette in the final strides. Maureen Rocks did finish third, but was placed last due to interference with Dreamfair Eternal. Blissful Smile (Jack Moiseyev) inherited third, with Didrickson rounding out the superfecta.
“This win is very fulfilling,” Jamieson said following the win. “Last week, I thought I was in a great spot and the rail opened up for me, but she was bearing out. She’s had some bad luck as she was second in the Roses Are Red final by a nose and a few other races, but tonight I wanted to be near the front with her and was able to get in behind Tim (Tetrick) and Anndrovette and things really worked out.”
Laughandbehappy, who co-holds the Mohawk track record of 1:49.1, is trained by Tony O’Sullivan for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc., Mentally Stable Inc., Robert Cooper Stables LLC and Jerry Silva. The 5-year-old miss now boasts career earnings of C$721,945.