MILTON, September 21, 2024— Despite a post-10 draw, Amazing Catch barreled forward and sat a snug pocket trip to burst through an inside seam and win at double-digit odds in the $713,000 Canadian Trotting Classic on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Amazing Catch crossed from the grandstand to the pylons alongside Myretirementdream to a :27 first quarter while Sir Pinocchio promptly pulled outside in anticipation of Highland Kismet, the 3-5 favourite steamrolling down the wide path. Sir Pinocchio powered past Amazing Catch to the lead in the backstretch as Highland Kismet followed the cover, but then bobbled stride into a gallop and out of contention.
Once Highland Kismet broke, Security Protected sprung out of fifth to race to march forward and press Sir Pinocchio into the final turn. Sir Pinocchio maintained control by three-quarters in 1:24 but wavered off the pylons in the sprint for home, parting the sea for Amazing Catch to sail through. Amazing Catch punched to the lead and outfooted fast-closing 21-1 shot Private Access to win by more than a length in a 1:51.4 mile, equaling the stakes record. Flying Kronos S, at 65-1, rallied for third and Security Protected faded to fourth.
“He’s had two 10-hole draws in classic races and put in two great efforts,” winning driver Dexter Dunn said after the race. “Obviously tonight was different; [in] the Hambo, we just went back to last and rode the inside. But [tonight] he had to work out there pretty hard, and we got a good helmet after that, and he really sprinted through. But you know, he just felt fantastic tonight.
“He’s a lovely horse,” Dunn also said. “He was racing some heavy hitters, so it’s not easy out there all the time. But you know, he hasn’t put too many bad efforts in.”
Ake Svanstedt trains Amazing Catch, a colt by Walner who has now won three races from 15 starts and earned $887,530 for owners Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband.
“He’s been in all the big races, and in fact, there in the Hambletonian – if he hadn’t gotten interfered, I think he could have won it,” co-owner Marvin Katz said. “He was that close. And I think Dexter felt the same way. He raced well in the Poconos and hasn’t raced for a month. It was the same with French Champagne. So when they both came here last week, they just needed the race. But clearly both of them were ready. I said to Sarah [Svanstedt], their plans and their organization for these horses are incomparable, and they deserve all the credit.”
Off at 19-1, Amazing Catch paid $41.30 to win.
By Ray Cotolo, for Woodbine Communications