Woodbine Mohawk Park: Favorites rule in Canadian Trotting Classic elims

Two C$40,000 eliminations of the Canadian Trotting Classic for 3-year-old colts and geldings occurred on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with victories taken by Up Your Deo and Celebrity Bambino.

In the first Trotting Classic elimination, Challenger marched the field of six past the opening quarter in 27 seconds and tripped the halfway timer in 56 2/5. Up Your Deo got into the outer flow from the garden spot before the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters and trotted by the leader and away from the field to win easily in 1:51 2/5, a new lifetime mark. It was tight for second, with Hasty Bid edging out Chapercraz. Tuscan Prince and Challenger earned the last two spots into next week's rich final.

It was the fifth win in 10 tries this year for Up Your Deo, a Walner colt owned by trainer/driver Svanstedt along with Suleyman Yuksel Stables, Deo Volente Farms and Van Camp Trotting Corp. Tonight's effort put him over half a million in earnings this year. Svanstedt noted it the perfect trip for Up Your Deo who prefers not to lead but rather follow a helmet.

A $100,000 yearling, Up Your Deo is the first foal of the Cantab Hall daughter Grand Stand. His third dam is the great Cameron Hall, winner of the 2002 Elegantimage elimination and final.

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Osceola was swiftest afoot in the second test but quickly had a challenger in Ghostly Casper, who had the lead by the opening quarter in 27 2/5, but his reign on the lead didn't last long. Osceola and Doug McNair quickly retook command and hit the half in 57 seconds, but Andy Miller had Little Expensive first-up and was at the leader's wheel at the 1:25 2/5 third panel.

Three trotters from the rear overtook the leaders and were charging hard down the stretch, with favorite Celebrity Bambino hitting the wire first in 1:52 4/5. Winners Bet took second followed by Gaines Hanover. Osceola held for fourth, with Little Expensive picking up the last spot in the final.

"Today the trip worked out great," noted winning pilot Yannick Gingras, who considers Celebrity Bambino to be one of the best in this division.

Trainer Ron Burke co-owns the Muscle Hill colt with J&T Silva Stable, Knox Services and Phil Collura. This was his third win in 11 attempts this year, including his Hambletonian elimination (fourth in final).

The C$660,000 Canadian Trotting Classic final will go postward as follows:

1 – Osceola
2 – Hasty Bid
3 – Challenger
4 – Up Your Deo
5 – Celebrity Bambino
6 – Little Expensive
7 – Winners Bet
8 – Tuscan Prince
9 – Gaines Hanover
10 – Chapercraz
AE – Ghostly Casper

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--