FRASERVILLE, ON — Charles Reid and Paul Shakes have been racing horses together for more than a dozen years and, as Meadowview Sunny begins his final preparations for Saturday’s $130,000 Gold Final at Kawartha Downs, the partners are wondering if this might finally be the horse they have been waiting for.
The two-year-old trotting colt captured his Gold Elimination last weekend in stylish form, storming out from behind pacesetter and favourite Heavy Raincoat to a quarter length victory in a track record 1:59.1. The win fanned the flame of expectations Meadowview Sunny had sparked through his impressive early training and a pair of winning qualifiers at Mohawk Racetrack in June.
“He was one of the smartest horses I’ve ever had to break, he did everything right. Then about half way through the winter he showed he was something a little special,” recalls Shakes. “We had to shut him down at times because he could get over the ground a little too fast.
“He won both his qualifiers quite handy then we elected to school him rather than race him the week before (the Eliminations). We schooled him at Mohawk and Doug came a last quarter with him that we knew he would be one of the contenders,” adds the Stayner resident. “It’s been 12 or 14 years that I’ve been associated with Charlie and we’ve always said one day we’re going to have a good one. We’re hoping right now, this is him.”
The son of Classic Adam and Frisky Mitchelle, who was bred and raised at Reid’s Orono farm, will make his bid for Ontario Sires Stakes glory from Post 4 on Saturday and Shakes was very pleased with the outcome of the post position draw.
�When I heard that I said, “That’s perfect for us.” I like to be in the middle,” says the trainer. “There are some horses that can leave good, but he is handy, you can do whatever you want with him.”
Brown will be back in the race bike behind the gelding on Saturday night and Shakes is confident the Bowmanville resident will give his protege the best possible shot at a second straight victory.
“Any time I’ve ever had Doug drive for me, he is a very thinking driver, not only does he know his own horse, he knows the other horses and drivers,” Shakes explains. “He has always driven my horses the way they wanted to be driven.
“Charlie and I are in it for the long term. It’s nice to get some money at two and three, but we also would like an aged horse.”
Among the colts Brown will be studying prior to Saturday’s $130,000 Final are the other Elimination winners Lukes Thomas and Kingdom, who will start from Post 1 and Post 3 with Jody Jamieson and Rick Zeron in their race bikes. Brown will also be keeping careful watch on the two horse entry from Bob McIntosh’s stable, Tyrone Dillon and Ethen Seelster, who start side-by-side at Posts 5 and 6, and Heavy Raincoat, who drew Post 2.
Kawartha Downs raises the curtain on its Saturday evening harness racing show at 7:30 pm and the two-year-old trotting colts take centre stage in Race 7.