Western Fair: MacDonald seeks first Camluck Classic win with Linedrive Hanover

The atmosphere will once again be electric at The Raceway at Western Fair when eight top older pacers will convene for the C$150,000 Camluck Classic over the half-mile oval. One man looking to see plenty of success on the 12-race card is James MacDonald, three-time and reigning O'Brien Award winner for Driver of the Year.

Despite the yearly national recognition, MacDonald has yet to taste success in the Camluck Classic and hopes to get in the win column this year with Linedrive Hanover (2-1 morning line).

"He's a great horse and is the fastest ever in Canada on a half-mile track. He won the Confederation Cup in 1:49 [2022] at Flamboro," said MacDonald. "I just love him. He has a quick turn of foot and can race either way; he can snap off the car or race off-the-pace if that is the only option."

Trained by Anthony Beaton for West Wins Stable, McKinlay & Fielding and Mac Nichol, Linedrive Hanover began his year at another half-mile track and was rolling along in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway before being done in by a bad trip in the rich final. After a couple of weeks off, he returned to Canadian soil to finish a solid second behind the King of the Preferred level Taurasi on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The task on Friday for MacDonald is figuring out a trip from post six with the very speedy 7-5 morning-line favorite Hellabalou drawing post one in the 10th race feature. A 6-year-old under the care of trainer Ron Burke, Hellabalou pulled off an upset in the Borgata after sitting off a pace duel, partially prompted by Linedrive Hanover. Louis-Philippe Roy, a two-time Camluck Classic winner (2022 – Jimmy Freight and 2018 – Rockin Ron), will be in the bike behind Hellabalou.

"Absolutely," remarked MacDonald when asked if Hellabalou will be tough to beat from the inside. "I've driven Hellabalou and I've raced against Hellabalou. I know what he is capable of and obviously the ideal draw would've had us at the rail and him in the six-hole, but that is not the way the racing Gods wanted it to work. We'll take what we've got and like I said, no matter what the draw I still think we have a big shot."

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Others in the field with a chance at the Camluck Classic trophy include Blue Hunt (post three), a recent 1:47 4/5 winner at Woodbine Mohawk Park for Travis and Jodie Cullen, and Poseidon Seelster, a winner of nearly C$700,000 who could end up with a sweet pocket trip starting from the second tier behind Hellabalou.

Rounding out the octet is Dragononthebeach (post two), Whichwaytothebeach (post four), Ron (post five) and American History (post seven).

Topping the undercard at Western Fair on Friday is the C$50,000 Forest City Invitational Pace for mares where 2023 champion So Much More will look for an encore performance.

MacDonald had a difficult decision to make for the Forest City and elected to go for the repeat with the 8-year-old So Much More, who only has one win in 11 starts this year, rather than the upstart 4-year-old Talk Curdy To Me, a three-time winner on the year, including over the half-mile surface at Flamboro Downs on May 19.

"History," said MacDonald about the decision. "Her record kind of speaks for itself. She's been next to unbeatable in Canada the last three years. I love Talk Curdy To Me and I think she's a cool little horse, but I think So Much More has a few more good races in her."

Talk Curdy To Me was installed as the 8-5 morning-line choice with Roy picking up the drive for trainer Dave Menary. They'll likely look to secure position behind the speedy pole-sitter Glenboro (3-1), while MacDonald will need to work some magic from off-the-pace.

"She can leave but she doesn't snap off the car like some of the young whippersnapper mares," said MacDonald. "If you watch the replay from last year, it was a pretty unbelievable trip. She was three-wide most of the back half, and she just has guts beyond guts. She never gives up and usually finds a way to win."

The ninth race on the card, the Forest City also features 2022 winner Gias Surreal with driver Bob McClure starting from the difficult post seven on the outside of the gate.

The Friday program at Western Fair, which kicks off at 5:50 P.M. (EDT), also features Ontario-sired Grassroots action for 3-year-old colt pacers, the City of London finals, and a Preferred Pace and Trot.