Grand River: Simple Kinda Man crowned Battle of Waterloo champion

It was a worthwhile trip from the States to Elora, Ontario, this afternoon for driver Corey Callahan as he guided Simple Kinda Man to a 7-1 upset victory in the C$200,200 Battle of Waterloo for Ontario-sired 2-year-old colt pacers.

2-1 favorite Burning Midnight (Trevor Henry) shot directly to the lead, and he would chop out an opening quarter in 27 4/5 before getting a big breather in the second quarter, reaching the half in just 57 3/5. Simple Kinda Man and Callahan had gotten away fourth, and he was out and on the move first-over before Burning Midnight reached the half.

Simple Kinda Man gained in the third turn and up the backstretch, and he was matching strides with Burning Midnight at the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters before putting his body in front on the last turn. Simple Kinda Man cleared for good as the field entered the stretch, and he kept the passing lane-shooting Hudson Phil (James MacDonald) at bay to win by three-parts of a length in 1:55 flat. Burning Midnight held third ahead of Taste Of History (Louis-Philippe Roy).

"He actually drove really good today," noted Callahan. "He darted in on me a couple times, but the changes that (trainer Scott McEneny) had made to his bridle really seemed to help. He was nice and calm, and I could sit out there and rate as much as I wanted to go. When I called on him he sprinted off for me.

"I was able to fall in a good spot, and Scott seemed to think that if he could get in a spot where he'd be first-up he would be pretty tough, and he was right."

M And L Of Delaware Inc. own the victorious Sportswriter colt who scored his second win from five starts and pushed his earnings to $105,080. Bred by Bluestone Farms LLC., Carol Agins, and S. Steven Arak, Simple Kinda Man is out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Sorcha Bluestone, a half-sister to the likes of millionaire Art Director (Artiscape) and six-figure earners Speed Demon ($717,533) and Sweet Talkin Satin ($507,219). Simple Kinda Man returned $16.50 to win.

"He got sent to me by the owner about six weeks ago just to race up here in Ontario," explained McEneny. "He's very fast and he's a very agressive horse. We've had to get him quieted down a little bit. He got in a speed duel there the first start and it kind of woke him up, so we've just got to get him back quieted down, but he seems pretty good now.

"He's got very quick speed. I trained him there with an open bridle before the elimination, and I really don't think I've trained a horse for a piece that fast."