Sensational Jimmy Freight triumphant in $150,000 Camluck Classic

Jimmy Freight (Sportswriter) broke a track record in a powerful first-over harness racing performance to capture the $150,000 Camluck Classic on Friday (May 27) at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

Regular reinsman Louis-Philippe Roy found the stallion a seat in fifth as Tattoo Artist (James MacDonald) battled to gain front-end control in a :26.1 opening quarter. Roy activated Jimmy Freight as the field of eight turned for the half in :55.1, and the seven-year-old steadily advanced first over through the third panel.

Jimmy Freight drew level with Tattoo Artist as they passed three-quarters in 1:23.1, and the pair dueled into the final turn. Tattoo Artist wrestled back a slim lead as they swung into the lane, but Jimmy Freight refused to be denied and muscled past his rival in mid-stretch to prevail in 1:50.2 as Roy raised his fist triumphantly.

Tattoo Artist was second by two lengths. Poseidon Seelster (Bob McClure) finished third. The win price was $6.20.

“I just knew the feeling going at the three-quarters, I knew I was a winner by then,” Roy said in his post-race interview. “I told James (MacDonald) ‘here comes the train!’ He just laughed, Bob (McClure) and him after the race.”

Jimmy Freight has now won six consecutive races – with his five previous in the Woodbine Mohawk Park top class – and eight of his past nine. The aged stallion returned to racing in late 2021 after a two-year hiatus to breed. The Richard Moreau trainee has won 31 times in 70 career starts and has earned more than $1.7 million. He currently stands stud and races for owner Adriano Sorella of Milton.

Roy said he is better than ever.

“I know the horse pretty much – I drove him at three, I drove him at four – and the way he was racing lately, I’ve never seen him that strong and confident,” he said. “People have watched the last time he raced at Mohawk – he came back in :51.4, his own back half, with :25.1 on the end – that just proved the horse is so incredible. I just got the luck to sit behind him.”

Jimmy Freight’s winning time was the fastest by a pacing stallion in the track’s history. He dethroned Evenin Of Pleasure, who paced in 1:50.3 in 2016. Only Rockin Ron has gone faster at the circuit with a 2018 clocking of 1:50.1.

Roy left no doubt that Jimmy Freight is at the top of his list.

“He’s my favourite horse for sure,” Roy said. “He’s the first good horse I’ve been driving on the Grand Circuit and been competitive. He made a million-six, maybe a million-seven now, but for most of it I was sitting behind him, so he definitely is my top horse.

“Tonight was the best feeling I’ve ever had in a race when he went by (Tattoo Artist) and crossed the wire first.”

It was the first edition of the Camluck Classic since 2019.

The undercard featured a field of top pacing mares in the $50,000 Forest City Pace, which was returning after a 10-year absence with a sponsorship from Mac Lilley Farms.

Yonkers stalwart Gias Surreal (So Surreal) led every step in a 1:52.4 track record-equaling romp. She darted to the lead from post two for driver Bob McClure, laid down :27.3 and :56.4 first-half fractions, and kicked away when challenged passing three-quarters in 1:24.3. The mare stormed away from her rivals in the sprint for home and was clear by five-and-three-quarter lengths as she crossed the line.

Karma Seelster (Jordan Stratton) circled all but one to finish second. Dabarndawgswatchin (Jody Jamieson) recovered from an early break and went from last to third in the final quarter. The win payoff was $3.80.

Four fields of Ontario-sired four-year-olds and younger went behind the gate on Friday for four City of London worth a total of $111,400.

Mass Attack (Muscle Mass) secured the front after a rival’s break in the trotting male division and held on by a head to win in 1:59 for Trevor Henry, who won the day’s first five races. The Champ Champ (Anthony Haughan) lost the photo by a head. Energizer De Vie (Jamieson) was third.

Mass Attack, a three-year-old gelding, swept his City of London Series starts, winning both of the elimination legs and the final. Peter Clements trains and co-owns him with Barry Klages of Owen Sound. The homebred is three-for-seven lifetime and has earned $29,266 for his connections.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink