Two Canadian records tied at Georgian

Forbidden Trade and Tattoo Artist rewrote history books on Sunday at Georgian Downs as both aged stallions equaled track and Canadian harness racing records for their respective gaits.

Former Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade triumphed in the $75,000 Earl Rowe Memorial and produced the record in his first start of the year on home soil.

Regular reinsman Bob McClure, determined to put the Kadabra stallion on top, sent him forward from post two in a group of four vying for the early lead. He settled for the pocket briefly before brushing past Only For Justice (Chris Christoforou) easily after finishing the first quarter mile in :26.4

McClure carved out a :55 and 1:23 tempo through the middle fractions, and Forbidden Trade stormed away from his rivals as he moved into the payoff panel. The Determination-owned horse extended his margin to four lengths at the finish and equaled the track, stakes, and Canadian record of 1:51.3.

Only For Justice was unable to match the leader but held place. Oney Hall finished third.

FORBIDDEN TRADE REPLAY

The 1:51.3 mark replicated Lookslikeachpndale’s 2016 Earl Rowe-winning time, the fastest clocking for an aged trotting stallion on a five-eighths mile track in Canadian history.

Forbidden Trade is now 19-for-37 lifetime and has earned $1,647,162. Luc Blais trains the five-year-old for Determination of Montreal. The horse is best-known for his upset victory in the 2019 Hambletonian.

The race is named in honour of Earl Rowe, a prominent builder in Ontario harness racing who founded Barrie and Windsor Raceways. He worked as a breeder, owner, trainer, and driver and served as the president of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society twice. He was also a Member of Provincial Parliament, Member of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition of Canada, and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Ontario-sired Tattoo Artist also returned to Canada and became the second horse of the day to tie a Canadian record as he wired the field in the $100,000 four-year-old invitational for pacers in 1:49.

McClure steered Tattoo Artist to the front in a :26.1 opening split and cut out a :54.1 half-mile time. Second favourite Warrawee Vital (Trevor Henry) made his first-up move in the third quarter, but Tattoo Artist put him away by speeding to a 1:22.1 three-quarter clocking. Pocket-sitter Fortify (Austin Sorrie) chased the leader around the final turn and sling-shot off cover in the stretch.

Fortify ripped through the leader’s advantage as they neared the wire, but Tattoo Artist dug in and kept his head in front for the 1:49 victory. Fortify finished second; Mayhem Hanover (Christoforou) was third.

TATTOO ARTIST REPLAY

The 1:49 record has stood since Bigtime Ball paced the mile at Georgian Downs in the second leg of the 2009 Ontario Masters series.

Tattoo Artist, a four-year-old son of Hes Watching, has won 17 times and has raked in $1,052,734 over 37 career starts. Owners Let It Ride Stables Inc., Frank Cannon, Diamond Creek Racing, and J and T Silva Stables LLC brought the horse back to Canada for this start after a year spent in the United States. Ian Moore regained his training duties.

Georgian Downs is set to see racing again on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 7:15 p.m. EDT. A Preferred 2 Pace highlights the 10-dash program.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink