Bermuda Triangle swallows heavy favorite

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Trainer Robert Williams is earning a reputation as a giant killer at Fort Erie.

In the three-horse Harry J. Addison Jr. Stakes on July 11, Williams upset 1-20 favorite Forever Grand with Domascas Consort ($12.30)

Tuesday, Williams saddled Bermuda Triangle ($19.60) to snap the 10-race winning streak of quarter-mile specialist Pembroke Hall, who was sent off as the 3-5 favorite.

The streak began with Pembroke Hall's final race of 2002. He won all six starts last year and followed with three this year. All were at two furlongs. The last score was July 10 when Pembroke Hall, a 7-year-old gelding, shipped to Calder to capture the $50,000 Rocket Man Stakes on the Summit of Speed program.

Bermuda Triangle's win Tuesday was his second in five lifetime starts, but only the third for Williams since he purchased the horse cheaply for one of his clients, Bob Unruh.

"I bought him for $500," said Williams. "Plus, another $500 if he won a race. They didn't want him - he had a breathing problem."

Before switching barns, Bermuda Triangle finished last of seven in a maiden race for $10,000 claimers at five furlongs here May 4.

"He had showed early speed so I put him in a quarter-mile race," said Williams.

Bermuda Triangle finished second at 88-1 to Pembroke Hall. Then the next time out, July 13, when Pembroke Hall wasn't in the race, Bermuda Triangle won.

"Now he's come back and beat Pembroke Hall. Maybe next year we will go to Calder, and Pembroke Hall will stay here," Williams said.

Trainer Don MacRae admitted it was a shock to see his Pembroke Hall nipped.

"Horses get beat. He came back fine," said MacRae, who shares first place in the trainer standings with Tom Agosti. "My horse broke a little slow and the other horse got a clean trip - and, he was in good order."

Domascas Consort wilts in the heat

Domascas Consort, second choice at 5-2, finished last of seven in Monday's $40,000 Civic Holiday Stakes. He dueled early with eventual winner Elegant Hunter through a half-mile in 47.53 seconds.

"Domascas Consort doesn't like the heat," said Williams. "He was wet in the paddock, and it was a good half-mile. So, everything kind of worked against him."

Williams has nominated Domascas Consort to the $40,000 Blazing Sevens here Aug. 15. It's scheduled for seven furlongs on the turf course

"If he takes to the turf I might run him in the Puss N 'Boots on Labor Day," said Williams.

Hammett wins with first mount back

Lisa Hammett returned to the saddle on Monday and scored with her first and only mount of the year, Mischievous Lover. It was a pickup mount.

Hammett was substituting for Rui Pimentel, who chose to ride in the $150,000 Royal North Handicap at Woodbine. Hammett has been exercising horses for the past few weeks to get in condition to ride. She had been injured during the winter at Fair Grounds when a horse flipped over on her.

"I've made New Orleans kind of my second home," said Hammett, 38. "I work horses there during the off season."

Hammett had a hit-and-miss year last season, when she won 12 races. She was sidelined with an injury last August.

* Fridays have been added to the schedule through the remainder of the meeting, which concludes Sept. 6. A total of 83 horses, including also eligibles, are entered for Friday's card.