Woodbine Mohawk Park: Celebrity Bambino captures Canadian Trotting Classic

Celebrity Bambino was able to catapult off a second-over trip and capture Saturday's C$660,000 Canadian Trotting Classic at Woodbine Mohawk Park for driver Yannick Gingras. The beaten Hambletonian favorite rebounded with a 1:51 4/5 stakes record- equaling mile.

Little Expensive blasted to the front ahead of 6-5 favorite Up Your Deo into the first turn, with Gingras finding an early hole with Celebrity Bambino. Following a first quarter in 26 3/5 set by Little Expensive, the pace slowed notably during the second quarter. Gingras moved Celebrity Bambino to the outside on a slow move, with Winners Bet and Dexter Dunn following his cover.

With the half in just 56 1/5 and Gingras advancing, Up Your Deo and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt pulled the pocket, providing cover for Celebrity Bambino and the rest of the outer tier. The pace accelerated on the final bend, with three- quarters passed in 1:24 by Little Expensive and Andy Miller, but the favorite was wearing him down by mid-stretch.

Gingras sent Celebrity Bambino wide, and on a prolonged bid was able to pass Up Your Deo, but then needed encouragement as Winners Bet closed in steadily on the outside. Hasty Bid found room to the inside and was also closing but not nearly fast enough. Celebrity Bambino held strongly through the stretch, with Winners Bet settling for second and Hasty Bid third ahead of Up Your Deo.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

"He had some trouble with his gait at the start," Gingras said following the victory. "Once I got settled in, I knew that Ake (Svanstedt) would pull and give me cover. I don't think he could have won going first-over."

Sent off a 2-1, the Ron Burke-trained Celebrity Bambino returned $6.80 to win. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Phil Collura and J & T Silva Stable, Celebrity Bambino, a son of Muscle Hill, was a winner for the fourth time this season.