He’s
called Royalty For Life.
For
trainer George Ducharme winning the Breeders Crown juvenile colt trot would be
a life changing experience.
For
the conditioner who trains a small group of trotters pointed towards the New
York Sire Stakes program each year, the Breeders Crown is a pleasant departure
from the norm and something he’s definitely not taking lightly.
“It
would be the best thing that’s happened for me in this sport,” Ducharme said.
The
reality for Royalty For Life is that he has a fine chance of getting Ducharme
and owners Alfred Ross, Raymond Campbell and Paul Fontaine into the winner’s
circle Saturday night at Woodbine.
The
homebred, a result of foal-sharing partnership between Ross’ mare Bourbon N
Grits and Campbell’s stallion R C Royalty, had a two-year-old season quite
similar to his sire in 2012. Royalty For Life was one of the key players in the
New York Sire Stakes program setting the table for Ducharme and company to
venture to the Red Mile and now to Woodbine.
“It’s
a long season especially having to race on all of those half-mile tracks in New
York,” said Ducharme. “But he’s stayed together well and seems really good
right now.”
Royalty
For Life teamed with Tim Tetrick in Kentucky and surprised many when he upset
the highly regarded Dontyouforgetit at The Red Mile in a spirited 1:54 2/5
mile. The race gave the connections the impetus to head north for the Crown.
Last
Friday in the elimination race at Woodbine Royalty For Life finished a solid
second behind likely Crown favorite, the
undefeated Wheeling And Dealin.
“I
think if I do a few things different in that mile I could have beaten that
colt,” said Tetrick about his elimination drive.
The
trainer took the effort in stride and hopes to see a different style of race
this week for the big money. “There are a few more horses in the mix and I
think that will help to assure a more honest pace,” said Ducharme referring to
the slow opening half Wheeling And Dealin set in the elimination. Royalty For
Life drew post nine for the final but moves into post eight with the scratch of
Pine Credit and has been tabbed an 8-1 offering in the morning line.
For
Ducharme who generally trains
homebreds and low priced yearlings the presence on the big stage is a rarity
but something he seems to be taking in stride.
He
says that Royalty For Life was somewhat of a handful early in his training, but
he started to show some maturity and promise at the time stakes payments were
due. “He started to develop in March when we had to make the sustaining
payments,” said Ducharme about keeping the horse eligible for some major races
this year and of course the 2013 Hambletonian.
“He’s
definitely the best horse I’ve ever trained,” said Ducharme.
It
was in August at Vernon Downs that Royalty For Life did something that
surprised and impressed his trainer. “He won in 1:55 4/5 at Vernon Downs and
Jimmy Morrill Jr. came back and said he hadn’t even pulled the earplugs,”
recalled Ducharme.
“I’ll
tell you the mile he went before the New York Sire Stakes final at Yonkers was
most impressive to me. He trotted a mile in 1:58 4/5 and came his last quarter
in :28 2/5.”
While
Royalty For Life does wear trotting hopples Ducharme is convinced his well
mannered, intelligent colt could go without hopples. “I think that’s more about
me not wanting him to make breaks trying to leave quickly on the half-mile
tracks in New York,” said the trainer. Ironically all of the colt’s breaks this
season came while leaving the gate.
With
seven wins in 13 starts this year heading into Saturday’s $600,000 US final,
Royalty For Life has earned $184,571 this season. While his pedigree on the
surface won’t draw that much attention, Ducharme said that Bourbon N Grits was
a $45,000 yearling purchase for Ross in 2004. So it was clear that the daughter
of Donerail who enjoyed a brief racing career, had a decent maternal family as
well as being a solid individual.
Seven
years ago in October Royalty For Life’s sire R C Royalty captured the Valley
Victory at Woodbine against the top freshman in North America.
On
Saturday, the best colt from his second crop on the racetrack, hopes to capture
this year’s most prestigious race.
The
headline: Crown Royalty has a nice ring to it.
