Mar Dream giving it everything he
has
By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
The
record shows that Mar Dream has had to settle for the runner-up spot in his
last four starts, but it certainly hasn’t been for lack of trying.
The
6-year-old son of Cambest, who races for the team of owner William Neumeister,
trainer Bob Johnson and pilot Mooney Svendsen, won his first two starts at this
meet while racing with modest conditioned company and has spent his last four
outings squaring off against the best on the grounds in the Open Pace.
“Bill
bought him back in September in Indiana from Gregg Wright,” Johnson informed.
“He was a little disappointing for us back there, but he’s thrived since he’s
come out here and gone some really nice miles.”
Two
weeks ago, Mar Dream played the role of stalker and came up a neck short of
catching heavily-favored A Real Miracle. In his most recent appearance, he
turned in a solid first-over effort and fell a half-length short of holding off
the Canadian invader Cenalta Power.
“I
thought he could have won that race two back if he got out just a bit earlier,
and his last race was very game because he was taking the worst of it,” Johnson
noted. “Mooney said he absolutely raced his guts out last time.
“This
is a class horse with a 1:50 2/5 mark. He’s come into his own here and I think
the combination of the weather and the track are the main reasons. I’m looking
forward to racing him some more.”
Open Pace brings out sharp performers
Cenalta
Power, who made an impressive local debut in last week’s clash at the head of
the class; the hard-knocking Mar Dream and beaten favorite A Real Miracle get a
rematch in Saturday’s Open Pace, which headlines the 12-race program. First
post is 6:10 p.m.
A
reminder that racing is now being conducted under the Watch and Wager LLL
banner on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Beginning December 26, Friday night
action will be added to the mix.
Looking
at the main event, Cenalta Power is a 5-year-old son of Brandon’s Cowboy who is
owned, trained and driven by Ryan Grundy. A 1:53 victor in Canada, he made his
United Sates debut in last week’s Open and pulled off a $25.80 surprise.
Leaving
from the cozy rail slot in that affair, Grundy sat a tracking trip and then
came a sparkling :26 4/5 final quarter to be up by a head for the 1:53 3/5
score, with Mar Dream his most immediate victim. Odds-on A Real Miracle made up
a lot of ground through that fast last fraction to finish third.
Mar
Dream started the meet with back-to-back wins over conditioned rivals and has
now completed the exacta in four straight appearances for owner William
Neumeister, trainer Bob Johnson and pilot Mooney Svendsen. He has only been
denied by a neck and a head in the last two outings.
A
Real Miracle will be looking to make amends after finding himself with too much
work to do in the stretch last time at 90 cents on the dollar. The 4-year-old
son of Real Desire is conditioned by Junior Wilkinson, who also co-owns with
Billie Schwartz and Ivan Axelrod and Luke Plano will once again handle the
lines. Completing the cast are St Lads Lotto and Pointsman.
