Tetrick drives Market Share to victory in $1-million Canadian Trotting Classic

CAMPBELLVILLE, Ont. – A lot of patience and a little luck went a long way for Tim Tetrick and Market Share on Saturday night.

The Kentucky-bred Hambletonian winner, driven by Tetrick, came from fourth off the final turn to overtake Little Brown Fox in the deep stretch and capture the $1-million Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack. Market Share became the sixth Hambletonian champion to win this event since 2000 but first since Muscle Hill in 2009.

It was also an historic victory for Tetrick, who became just the third driver to win three $1-million races in a single season and first since John Campbell achieved the feat in 1995.

Nova Scotian Bill O’Donnell was the first to do so in 1985.

Tetrick also drove Market Share to victory in the US$1.5-million Hambletonian and finished first in the $1-million Metro Pace earlier this month with Captaintreacherous at Mohawk.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Tetrick said modestly. “It’s just amazing.

“He’s just a good, little horse. He shows up … and every time he gets behind the gate he gives you 110 per cent. I’m just so happy to be part of it.”

But Tetrick and Market Share were also a little lucky.

They appeared to be hemmed in approaching the top of the final turn when Money On My Mind broke stride. That created a timely opening for Tetrick and Market Share to clear and make their move. Down the stretch, Market Share was able to come up on the outside and overtake second-place finisher Little Brown Fox just before the finish line.

“That did help me out a lot,” Tetrick said of Money On My Mind’s misfortune. “At the quarter-pole I was, ‘This is great I’m going to be able to follow Little Brown Fox all the way around there.’

“When I looked back and saw horses coming, I saw Guccio and that really caught me off guard. Luckily I got to slip around (Prestidigitator) around the last turn and my horse did the rest from there.”

Market Share, the 3/5 favourite, started from post No. 1 and claimed the win by a neck in one minute 52.2 seconds on a fast track. Little Brown Fox took second by a neck over Guccio. The remainder of the 10-horse field, in order of finish was: Knows Nothing, Prestidigitator, My MVP, Solvato, Appomattox, Money On My Mind and Gym Tan Laundry.

Yannick Gingras of Sorel, Que., the driver of second-place finisher Little Brown Fox, tipped his cap to Tetrick and Market Share.

“I got beat by a good horse and he had a great trip,” Gingras said. “That’s racing but overall I was really happy with my horse’s effort.

“I had to use him a little bit at the quarter then I got covered up and was lucky enough to find room down the stretch when the rail opened up.”

Market Share paid $3.30, $2.30 and $2.20 while Little Brown Fox returned $3.30 and $3.00. Guccio paid $3.80.

Market Share was second to Little Brown Fox by a head in 1:53 while racing outside for the entire mile of their Classic elimination race last weekend. That meant his handlers lost the chance to select their post position for Saturday’s running but again were lucky enough to draw the No. 1 hole.

“He probably went his best race of the year last weekend,” winning trainer Linda Toscano said. “I think at first Tim kind of figured, ‘Oh, oh, I’m out here I better make my mile on the outside and hope to get to the final,’ and when he turned for home he still had a lot of go so he let him trot and he almost won the race.

“I know that’s not the post position he would’ve picked but it’s certainly better than the eight, nine or 10 hole.”

The win was the 12th in 20 career starts for Market Share and seventh in 15 races this year. The $500,000 winner’s share boosted Market Share’s 2012 earnings past $1.7 million and prompted Toscano to admit — almost reluctantly — he’s the best horse she’s ever conditioned.

“Certainly the program dictates that he is (best horse she’s had so far),” Toscano said. “I didn’t so going into the season but he is just getting better and better and he finds a way to win.”

Earlier, Rick Zeron of Oakville, Ont., drove Bee A Magician to victory in the $435,000 Peaceful Way for freshmen trotting fillies.

The 5/2 second choice posted a winning time of 1:53.4 to finish a neck ahead of To Dream On while Handover Belle took third.

Sylvain Fillion, a resident of Milton, Ont., drove odds-on favourite Wheeling N Dealin to victory in the $462,000 William Wellwood Memorial for two-year-old colt trotters. Wheeling N Dealin posted a time of 1:55.3 to remain undefeated in seven starts this season.