Woodbine Mohawk Park: Synergy squeezes through for Champlain success

Synergy found late racing room up the cones and took advantage, getting up for a narrow victory in the C$182,876 Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Synergy pressed on from the outside to wrestle the lead away from Nylander (James MacDonald) beyond the 29 second opening quarter. Synergy was immediately confronted by a brushing Port Perry (Bob McClure), and Gingras released that foe and settled into the pocket on the half to the 57 2/5 half-mile marker. Horse Trader (Trevor Henry) would be the next horse to move, coming to the outside from fourth past the half, and he would make it up into second at the 1:26 4/5 three-quarters.

Through the stretch it was clear that Horse Trader's move had been rebuffed as he couldn't get any closer to the leading Port Perry, but inside the final eighth, the leader wandered off the rail a bit, and that gave Gingras the seam he needed with Synergy. Port Perry was still determined, but once he got the clear air Synergy had enough time and trot to score by a nose in 1:55 4/5. Horse Trader wound up third, and there was a dead-heat for fourth between Nylander and Scamp (Louis-Philippe Roy).

"I wasn't sure if I got there, honestly, it was really tight at the wire. I was hoping," said Gingras. "I had the momentum going across, so I thought maybe I had a little chance. It was too close to call.

"When Bobby came I was happy to let him go. My horse is really good, but he hasn't raced in a month. He's been on the front a few times, so I was definitely happy to get to follow somebody. He's a really nice colt. I think he'll only be stronger next week and even maybe the week after. He's big and heavy, so I think racing a few weeks in a row isn't going to hurt him."

Per Engblom trains Synergy, a Father Patrick colt, for Brittany Farms LLC., John Fielding, Herb Liverman, and David Anderson. This was Synergy's third win from four attempts, and he pushed his bankroll to C$121,854. A $275,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase, Synergy was bred by Southwind Farms LLC. and is the third foal out of the Muscles Yankee mare Southwind Sauna. Southwind Sauna, a full sister to Federal Flex (1:53 3/5, $735,534) has produced the likes of Southwind Tesla (Chapter Seven, 1:54, $204,957). Synergy was the slight 8-5 favorite over Port Perry and paid $5.20 to win.