TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

Patience is a Virtue

Small-town tracks can deliver big-time excitement, too. For example, Poof’s electric performance this past Saturday’s Balanced Image Trot at Hanover Raceway.

The 2-year-old came into the race as an afterthought (11-1), and the bill seemed to fit after a dismal start. At the opening-quarter mark, Poof was 10 lengths behind the leader… that’s never typically a great sign. But before you go tearing up your ticket, let this be a lesson in the value of patience. The winner of Hanover’s wide-open 10^th race used a late surge to rebound from a sluggish start and claim the top spot by a length.

Those who were tall enough to ride the rollercoaster (and didn’t demand the operator shut it down midway through) were rewarded with a $24.40 return on a $2 wager.

Streaks, Stakes, and Scores

T C I? More like TCB. The 2-year-old trotter made a statement in the $620,000 William Wellwood Memorial trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park on August 26. On top of winning the 13-race card’s most prestigious event, T C I extended his winning streak to six. If that wasn’t enough, he also earned a golden ticket to the Mohawk Million on September 23.

Saturday night’s stellar effort was par for the course for T C I, who owns a nearly unblemished 6-1-0 line in seven career starts. Heading into what will be his stiffest challenge yet, the colt makes for an intriguing betting option as he vies for a seventh consecutive victory.

There’s More to Racing than Picking the Winner

Here’s a bit of advice that can go a long way in the horse betting game: if the race is over before it starts, meaning the favourite is as close to a lock as mathematically possible, get creative by putting some longer-shot options into a boxed trifecta.

Luckily for you, this exercise won’t just be theoretical. On the same night as the William Wellwood Memorial was the Peaceful Way final. Drawn Impression (1-2) entered as the overwhelming favourite, and for good reason, as the trotter cruised to victory.

The race’s second-place finisher, Willys Home Run, closed the race at 11-1. The point here is that we knew Drawn Impression had the inside track to victory, so it might be fun to predict who will finish second and third, with a little longshot sprinkle.

Tricky Travers

In last week’s ‘What’s on Track’ column, we talked a bit about the battle of the behemoths that was the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Well, the results are in, and things didn’t exactly go according to plan for three of the race’s four titans.

Opening line favourite, Forte (7-2), finished fourth, Preakness winner National Treasure (8-1) followed up in fifth, and Kentucky Derby victor Mage (4-1), ended up last.

However, the fourth titan, Arcangelo (5-2), had a day to remember. Out of the second post position, the Kentucky-bred colt took home top prize in the $1.25-million Travers after separating from the pack around the eighth pole.

Saturday’s triumph punctuated what’s been a banner year for Arcangelo, who previously won the Belmont Stakes in June. For the year, he’s gifted his connections nearly $2 million in prize money.

Back on Track

Remember Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis? He’s the guy who launched 53 home runs in 2013 but will forever remain infamous for going hitless in 54 consecutive at-bats, setting a still standing MLB record.

Bolshoi Ballet, a 5-year-old Irish-bred, spun a gem on Saturday at Saratoga to curb his winless streak at nine. Now, that comparison to Davis isn’t necessarily fair, but a frustrating streak was broken and let’s be real, it’s always fun to slip Chris Davis into a conversation.

It’s fitting that Bolshoi Ballet’s first victory since July 2021 came in the Sword Dancer Stakes. Coincidences aside, a horse like this who’s shown glimpses in the past, but has struggled to regain that form, makes for an interesting wager.

Keep any eye out for these types of trends when assessing a horse’s potential… who knows, maybe they’re just unlucky.