Fort Lauderdale an option for Mr Havercamp

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Mr Havercamp recorded his second graded stakes win of the year in the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta back on Nov. 3, but the versatile Court Vision gelding is likely to make his way back on turf for his next start.

Trainer Catherine Day Phillips said there was a chance Mr Havercamp could run back in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf Dec. 15 at Gulfstream Park.

“It’s an option,” she said. “If we run again, we may run there. We’re letting him tell us where he’s at. He seems to have come out of the [Autumn] very well and is looking for more, so to speak.”

A good result in the Fort Lauderdale could go a long way toward consideration as Canadian champion older male for Mr Havercamp. Along with the victory in the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes, Mr Havercamp also has won the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes on turf and the Steady Growth Stakes on Tapeta. He also ran second to Oscar Performance in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile on Sept. 15.

Day Phillips said there could be a few spots for Mr Havercamp this winter, but that owners Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry also are not opposed to taking the winter off, despite only running five times this year.

“There are options for him, and he’s fairly lightly raced, too,” she said. “We were delayed with his year, and he’s very versatile. Next year is our focus. We’d be happy to put him away and we’d also be happy to run him again. It all depends on how the winter lines up.”