Woodbine Mohawk Park: HP Royal Theo upsets in William Wellwood Memorial

HP Royal Theo had just an overnight victory to his credit heading into the C$370,000 William Wellwood Memorial final for 2-year-old male trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but he backed up a solid second in his elimination a week ago with a rallying 1:54 2/5 decision on Saturday night.

Back Of The Neck (Mattias Melander), Port Perry (Bob McClure), and Beyond Kronos (Dexter Dunn) all left strongly, with Port Perry getting down to the rail past the 27 2/5 opening quarter and then releasing Beyond Kronos. Meanwhile, Nylander (James MacDonald) had been rough-gaited getting away and was left parked out on the rim.

Beyond Kronos would go on to hit the half in 56 1/5 and then Dunn tried to get away on the field to the 1:25 2/5 three-quarters as Nylander clogged up the outer tier. Seeing that his cover couldn't go any further, driver Louis-Philippe Roy sent HP Royal Theo three-wide from second-over before three-quarters, but he had over three lengths to make up on the leader.

Through the stretch Beyond Kronos began to come back to the field, and HP Royal Theo had clear sailing and the jump on the others to the outside. He would surge by a spent Beyond Kronos just prior to the eighth pole, then kept clear to the wire, winning by a length and three-quarters. Public choice Capricornus (Tim Tetrick) closed for second, followed by Back Of The Neck, Port Perry, and Blue Cupertino (Doug McNair).

"This one, he just came to me after his first schooler. Jean Tourigny did all the ground work, let's put it this way, and after that we had to work out a few curves he had," said winning trainer Ben Baillargeon. "He was a little aggressive, and between Sylvain (Filion) and Louis we got it done, and now we have a great horse.

"He's a freak. I call him the freak; he doesn't mind fighting. His first qualifier, he went 28 the first quarter and 28 the last quarter, but it was speed. The speed was always there; we just had to manage him. Now he's controllable, and we're going to try and keep him that way."

Claude Hamel bred and co-owns HP Royal Theo, a Royalty For Life colt, with Michel Damphousse. HP Royal Theo has now earned C$227,600, and he paid $15.40 to win as a 6-1 offering. HP Royal Theo is out of the SJ's Caviar mare Mikas Mazurka, making him a half-brother to Call For Justice (Justice Hall, 1:52 4/5, $596,147).