Henriksen records milestone victory

Trotters young and old were in the harness racing spotlight Monday night at Mohawk Racetrack and fittingly trotting master Per Henriksen recorded a milestone victory.

Bee In Charge, the three-year-old half-brother to $3.8 million winner Bee A Magician, gave Henriksen a very special victory Monday at Mohawk. Not only was it the youngster's first lifetime win, but it was also the 1,000th North American training victory for Henriksen, who was also in the sulky for the milestone.

In the second-race, $14,000 Maiden Trot, Henriksen put Bee In Charge on top by the 1:01.4 half, was two lengths the best by the 1:31 three-quarters and had more than three lengths on their foes by the wire reached in 1:58.

It was just the fourth lifetime start for the Manofmanymissions son, who sold as a yearling for $130,000. Richard 'Nifty' Norman started out with the colt, who had difficulty making breaks as a rookie and was sent to Henriksen at the end of his two-year-old season.

A native of Norway who came to the US in 1980 and Canada, specifically Norwood, Ontario, 20 years later, Henriksen qualified Bee In Charge in early April and then guided him to a third place finish two weeks later. The trotter is owned by Mel Hartman of Ottawa and David McDuffee of Florida, two of the partners on his famous big sister.

Bee In Charge is the latest talented trotter to emerge from Henriksen's care. Other standouts include Hambletonian winner Nuclear Kosmos, Hambletonian Oaks winner Oolong, Breeders Crown winner Southwind Serena and $800,000 winner Clerk Magistrate among many others.

Bee In Charge

Also on Monday's card, Henriksen's Asa Farm got a victory with Exemplar in the $34,000 Preferred Trot.

A solid group of seven competed in the weekly top trot and Preferred mainstay Fearless Man found his usual spot on the front and led the field by the half in :56.2. The Rick Zeron trainee reached the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1, but several rivals were ready to challenge in the lane.

In the stretch, Fearless Man battled tough, but O Narutac Perfetto edged by in deep stretch and appeared to have a victory in sight. However, Richard Moreau trainee Exemplar and driver Sylvain Filion trotted up a storm on the far outside and powered by late to win by a neck in 1:54.1.

Fearless Man held on for third.

Exemplar, who was sixth turning for home, now has two wins in 11 starts this season. The six-year-old gelded son of Andover Hall has earned $47,440 this season for owners Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc. and Asa Farm

Monday's victory was the 12th career triumph for Exemplar, who has spent time in both the Henriksen and Moreau stables this season. The veteran trotter has career earnings of over $237,000.

Exemplar paid $19.60 to win.

The $24,000 Mares Trot also saw an upset winner, but this time in gate-to-wire fashion.

Seven-year-old Can I Say went coast-to-coast through fractions of :27.1, :56, 1:24.2 and 1:53.4 for a 25-1 upset. The daughter of Fourth And One was returning to the WEG circuit after four starts at Flamboro.

Co-owned and trained by Jim Whelan, Can I Say was guided to her second win of the season and 28th overall by Jody Jamieson. Monday's victory pushes her career earnings over $400,000 for owners Whelan and Terry & Clarence Devos.

Muscle Baby Doll, who was the 1-5 heavy favourite, finished second in her second start of 2016. The Tony O'Sullivan trainee trotted along fourth throughout the early going and was situated second-over on the back of Rockin With Dewey turning for home.

A four-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass, Muscle Baby Doll tried her best to track down the leader, but ultimately came up a length short. Can I Say paid $55.30 to win.

Live racing resumes Thursday night at Mohawk Racetrack. Post time is 7:30 p.m.

Mark McKelvie

(With Henriksen files from Kawartha Downs)