Hudon stable set for 4YO Stakes at Track On 2

A pair of four-year-old harness racing stake finals headline the Sunday (Aug. 4) card at Track On 2. Nine pacing mares go to battle in the sixth race for 27,600 in the Elizabeth Johson Final.

Gerry Hudon is the only trainer to have two entries in each of the finals. He trains the first elimination winner, Van Nuys (Mr Wiggles). Even though she has won back-to-back races, Van Nuys was given 7-2 morning line odds making her the third choice. Her mile times have been solid as she won the elimination in 1:56.3 and paced a slightly faster 1:56 mile the week prior at Century Downs.

“Yeah, I think she’s at the top of her game” responded Hudon. “She was meant to be a better filly than what she was. She got sick and hurt but has come back to where she should be. She has been racing great and I have no complaints with her.”

Van Nuys tore her stifle last year during a race at Century Mile but it seems to be fully mended.

The other Hudon-mare is the Captive Audience sired – Handcuffed came in third last week. The mare has had her fair share of success with eight career wins and is the highest earner in the field at $58,426. Her three wins this year, all of which came on the bigger track at Century Mile.

“The bigger track does help her but she got sick earlier in the year at Century Downs too” said Hudon. “It took us over a month and a half to get her back to full health but she’s there now. However, the bigger track does make a difference. She’s just really tough.”

It will be tough to beat the morning line favourite, Short Sell Hanover (Bettors Delight). She won the second elimination in a new lifetime mark performance of 1:54.3. She too has three wins this year, but they all came at Century Downs. The Kelly Hoerdt-trained mare has shown consistent late speed and if she is in a good spot she will be hard to chase down.

After a fourth-place finish in the eliminations, Cf Saving Grace (Santanna Blue Chip) still receives morning line odds making her the second choice. She only has one win this year and it was on the mile surface in Edmonton. The inside post position will surely help the David Kelly-trained mare, but it will be tough with all the speed coming from her right.

The 5-2 morning line favourite in the $29,500 Ron Orr Final is the Hudon-trained One Major Hottie (Mystician). He won the second elimination in 1:52.4 for his second win of the year and seventh of his career. The mile time was good enough to be his new lifetime mark. One Major Hottie is the reigning ABSS Super Final champion and he is looking to add more to his stake resume.

“He has raced great all summer” Hudon replied. “He has raced great ever since I claimed him from Brandon (Campbell). He a good little race horse and he raced huge in the elimination. I hope it plays out like that again on the weekend.” 

One Major Hottie’s stablemate, Laz To First (Lazurus N) is looking for his second win of the year. He was able to find his way into the top three again last week. In five starts this year, he has only finished outside the top three once. His lone win happened at Century Mile so he will see if he can find similar success at the bigger track at Track On 2

“He’s gritty, I like that horse a lot” Hudon exclaimed. “He could easily surprise them all this week. We bought him and he started good but hurt his knee. After being operated on, he’s now back with a couple of starts under his belt.”

The All Bets Off pacer, Mercedes was runner-up behind One Major Hottie last week. He was the favourite heading in as he has four wins already on the year. Last week’s second-place finish was his first time in the top-three finish that wasn’t a win. He recorded a 26.2 last quarter which could often be good enough for the win however he was stuck at the back of the pack. Mercedes and Brandon Campbell have another tough post position to come.

The rail horse, Hurrikane Ferrigno (Sweet Lou) finished third last week, but his recorded time was still faster than the other elimination winner. He has already visited the winner’s circle five times this year. Kelly Hoerdt teams up with the Delaware-bred gelding.

Panda Beer (Vertical Horizon) claimed the first elimination in 1:55.4. It was his third win of the season and eighth win in 37 career appearances. The time was good enough to be his best of the year but was still a bit short of his 1:54 lifetime mark. David Kelly trains and drives Panda Beer.

A free program for the entire card can be found here.

The first race kicks off at 1:10 p.m. MDT at Track On 2.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink