Rideau Carleton: Record mile turned in by Logan Park

For the second straight year, a Rideau Carleton Raceway track record has fallen during Ontario Sires Stakes competition.

In the second of two C$99,800 Gold Series divisions at the Ottawa oval on Sunday, July 11, 3-year-old trotting colt Logan Park sprinted down the stretch to reel in pace-setter Highland Mowgli and trip the teletimer at 1:52 4/5. Highland Mowgli settled for second, one-half length behind the favorite, and Macho Martini was three lengths behind in third. The mile lowered the former 3-year-old trotting colt and gelding record of 1:54 1/5 set by All Wrapped Up in 2019 and equaled the all-age track record set by P L Notsonice in 3-year-old trotting filly Gold Series action last summer.

"He was fantastic tonight," said driver Jody Jamieson, who guided Logan Park to the win from post one. "He charged off the gate and charged to the wire."

Jamieson drives the son of Archangel for trainer Rob Fellows and owners Outofthepark Stable, Reg Higgs, and Arpad Szabo. The win was Logan Park's second straight in Gold Series action, and Fellows hopes he can maintain his form through the remaining three legs.

"He wasn't sure of his gait last year; he made a lot of very, very inopportune breaks. He left a lot of money on the table," said Fellows. "This year he trained down flawless, and then his first start he made a break. With our new rules in Ontario I could just come back and race him the next week with trotting hopples, I didn't have to requalify him, and, so far, he's been good ever since. Tonight was a real good mile.

"It's still up here, the weather is humid," the trainer added. "It's the type (of weather) that track records would be set."

The first Gold Series division went to Lexus Kody, who caught Publicity Seeker at the wire in a personal-best 1:54 3/5. Emotions Riches was 2 3/4 lengths behind the neck-and-neck leaders. Race favorite Fashion Frenzie made a series of breaks that saw him finish well back in fifth.

"Not a word of a lie, he's the biggest horse I've ever had, and he's the most nervous horse I've ever had," said trainer Shannon Henry of Lexus Kody. "He's got a mind of his own. That's this horse's problem, so we're actually shocked. We knew he had the speed, but we're just shocked with how he's displaying it for us because he actually turns into a racehorse when he gets behind the gate."

Shannon's husband Trevor Henry piloted Lexus Kody to the win, his first in Ontario Sires Stakes action and his third since making his debut in May. Another son of Archangel, Lexus Kody did not race at two. The Henry's and their co-owners Norm Dunstan, who also bred the gelding, and David Hudson, opted to let the trotter to grow into his frame before starting his racing career.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--