INNISFIL, ON — Ontario’s talented three-year-old trotting colts compete in their last Gold Eliminations on Saturday evening at Georgian Downs and the pressure is on as colts attempt to score enough points to secure a berth in the season ending $300,000 Super Final.
Among the youngsters hovering just below the current cut off line for the top 10 is Antonio Tangreda’s Angus Scot, who heads into the tenth race off a solid 1:57.2 victory over the Georgian Downs oval on Sept. 21. Sitting in 15th spot with a total of 22 points earned through one third and two fifth-place finishes, the Angus Scot son needs a top three finish on Saturday to keep his post season hopes alive.
“I think he drew in the easiest division, which might help. He missed In Conchnito and Samuel Oaks any way,” says Kettleby resident Tangreda. “When he’s good, he’s very good and right now he seems at the top of his game. We’re looking forward to Saturday.”
Prior to September Angus Scot had been winless in eight attempts this season, but the addition of ulcer medication to his daily regimen seems to have put the winner of $169,300 back on track.
“He was not right, I think he had ulcers,” says the owner. “I got treating him for ulcers and he came right around. He put on quite a bit of weight and he’s feeling really good right now. I think we’ve got him cured.”
The gelding first demonstrated his new form in a non-winners of three races event at Kawartha Downs on Sept. 4, delivering a solid 1:58.4 victory, and then bounced back to score the personal best at Georgian Downs on Sept. 21. In addition to the ulcer medication, Tangreda says he and trainer Jason Ackroyd are keeping the trotter happy through a varied training routine.
“Today (Wednesday) he jogged, yesterday he swam and Monday he was on the equi-sizer for an hour and a half. He’ll train tomorrow at home, just enough to blow him out,” says Tangreda. “He’s got a good attitude, he’s a happy colt, and changing his routine around seems to keep him happier.”
Stephen Byron will send Angus Scot after a third straight victory from Post 4 in Saturday’s tenth race and Tangreda says the post is ideally suited to the gelding’s racing style.
“It’s just perfect. He can leave or he can come off the pace. You can decide what you want to do from there,” he notes. “He’s a very versatile horse.”
Georgian Downs sends the first sophomore trotting colt Gold Elimination to the post at 7:30 pm and also features the talented youngsters in Races 4 and 10. The top three finishers from each elimination will return to the Innisfil oval on Saturday, Oct. 9 for the last $130,000 Gold Final of their careers.