WINDSOR, ON — Jerry Vanboekel liked Windsong Espoir from the moment he stepped into the sales ring at last fall’s Canadian Open Yearling Sale, and heading into Sunday’s $130,000 Gold Final at Windsor Raceway his admiration has grown with every start.

“I just liked him,” recalls Vanboekel. “He looked like a Balanced Image horse.”

The Bright resident has an admitted soft spot for any horse with Balanced Image genes. He was part of the ownership group on the great Balanced Image daughter Elegantimage, who trotted her way to $955,368 in earnings between 1996 and 1998. And while Windsong Espoir is by first year sire Kadabra, his mother is Balanced Image daughter Diamond Image.

Windsong Espoir was bred by Paulette Loyens of London, and after Vanboekel acquired the colt William Loyens opted to retain a share in the youngster. After the trotter’s first two starts Vanboekel sold another share to Peter Heffering, who stands Kadabra at his Tara Hills Stud Farm, and Hope Stable of Port Perry.

“He trotted good in his first start, finished third and came home good. Then a week later he won for fun,” notes Vanboekel. “Peter (Heffering) liked the colt, he said he reminded him so much of his daddy (Kadabra).”

His Aug. 16 debut, in a leg of the Bridger Series at Mohawk Racetrack, was the only time Windsong Espoir has been bested in eight trips behind the gate. He won the Bridger Series final, a division of the Champlain Stakes, his elimination and the final of the William Wellwood Memorial Trot, and his elimination and final of the September Gold Series — all at Mohawk.

Trackside for every start, Vanboekel says last week’s Gold Elimination victory at Windsor — in an Ontario Sires Stakes record 1:56 — was the colt’s most impressive performance to date.

“To me, I think the best race he won was his last start. He was parked, was going to make his move and had to go three-wide, and still won in 1:56. And he did it so easily, the further he went, the further he went ahead,” says the longtime owner. “You almost get the feeling when you go to the racetrack you are going to win.”

Windsong Espoir crossed the wire eight lengths in front of his peers in last Sunday’s elimination. The closest any member of what is a talented two-year-old Gold Series division has finished to the precocious youngster is four and one-quarter lengths. The colt has been so dominant that track officials have suspended show wagering in his last two starts, and will do so again in Sunday’s fifth race.

“There are some good colts in there, but they race against him a few times and they don’t look so good,” comments Vanboekel. “I was in Kentucky last week and I think he’s as good as any of them (Grand Circuit colts). I wouldn’t mind racing any one of them.”

However, North America’s top colts will have to wait until next year to take their shot at Windsong Espoir. Vanboekel says the colt will race in Sunday’s Gold Final and in the Nov. 10 Super Final and wrap up his freshman campaign on 10 starts.

Brad Maxwell trains Windsong Espoir, and regular reinsman Steve Condren will pilot the winner of $493,004 from Post 3 in Sunday’s Gold Final. Post time for Windsor Raceway’s Sunday evening program is 7 pm, and the two-year-old trotting colts will battle in Race 5.

For complete entries please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/ewrfsu.html#N5