CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Post 5 proved lucky for the third time in Armbro Approach’s career on Monday evening as the three-year-old trotting colt captured his first Gold Final over Mohawk Racetrack’s seven-eighths mile oval.
The Mr Lavec son, in rein to Trevor Ritchie, sat third through much of the mile as the other elimination winner, JM Vangogh and driver Ron Waples, carved out fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.1. Heading around the final turn Ritchie sent Armbro Approach after the leader and the fan favourite took command of the race and fought off a determined challenge from Achieved Victory to score the 1:55.3 victory. JM Vangogh settled for third-place honours.
“I figured in the race that we weren’t going to beat (Mike) Saftic (Snoops Bytes) off the wings and I was pretty sure (Ron) Waples was going to go to the front, so I figured he would be first-over,” said trainer Geoff Maltby after the colt’s $130,000 triumph. “At the head of the lane it looked to me like he was going to get beat, but as soon as he saw that other horse coming he put his head down and went right at it.”
Maltby trains Armbro Approach for the Jeff Miller Stable of Haviland, OH and both men are looking forward to the future now that the colt has hit his stride.
“We have to go to Ottawa in about ten days; hopefully we are good for the Super Final, and if he does really well in the Super Final there may be a chance at Breeders Crown supplementation,” says Acton resident Maltby. “I’m really starting to believe, in the last couple of months the way he is training and the way he is acting for me, that he will be a Free For All-er next year.”
The win boosted Armbro Approach’s 2003 record to four wins, three seconds and two thirds in 13 starts and elevated his career earnings to $218,440. A half-brother to the winners of $1.5 million, including standouts like $738,145 winner Super Speedy, Armbro Approach was a bargain US$25,000 acquisition at the 2001 Kentucky Standardbred Yearling Sale, and while he did not meet his owner’s expectations at two, he has more than made up for it in the last three months.
Heading into the last regular season Gold Series event Maltby is hoping Armbro Approach remains healthy and can compete at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Oct. 16 and 23. The colt has a prefect score of 100 points from his elimination and Final victories at Mohawk, but to start in the $300,000 Super Final on Nov. 8, contestants are required to have at least two starts in Gold Elimination action.
Ontario Sires Stakes action is back at Mohawk Racetrack next Monday, Oct. 13 when the outstanding three-year-old pacing colts arrive in Campbellville for their last Gold Series Eliminations.