Mohawk Racetrack: Gingras, Takter double up in Goodtimes elims

Canepa Hanover put the entire 3-year-old trotting colt division on notice with another dominant performance Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack. A group of 13 sophomore trotting colts and geldings were split into two $30,000 eliminations for the Goodtimes Stakes.

The first elimination featured New Jersey Sires Stakes champion Canepa Hanover and the Jimmy Takter trainee more than lived up to the hype. Sent off as the 1/9 choice, Canepa Hanover and driver Yannick Gingras trotted out to the lead and posted an opening-quarter of 27 1/5. The middle-half saw the son of Muscle Hill hang up panels of 55 3/5 and 1:23 2/5 before trotting home under cruise control to win by an incredible 11 1/2 lengths in 1:51 3/5. The impressive clocking equaled the track record set by Trixton, also a Takter trainee, in last year’s Goodtimes final. “He’s got crazy power,” said Gingras following the race. “He was even better tonight than he was in the sires stakes. Tonight he got over this track very good. At the quarter in 27 1/5 I felt like I was going 30 (seconds).”

The Frank Antonacci trainee Iron finished second, while Rubber Duck finished third. Hemi Seelster and Olympic Son finished fourth and fifth to secure spots in next week’s final. Canepa Hanover is owned by Brittany Farms, Brixton Medical Inc., Christina Takter and the partnership of Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld and Sam Goldband. He now has two wins this season and has not missed the board in five starts. Canepa Hanover, who was a $300,000 yearling purchase, pushed his career earnings to $112,150 with the victory. He paid $2.10 to win.

The combination of Gingras and Takter teamed up to also take the second elimination with French Laundry. A son of Muscles Yankee, French Laundry followed stable mate The Bank in the second quarter to the front. After reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:25 1/5, French Laundry said goodnight to his rivals and trotted away for an easy 3 1/2 length victory in 1:53 3/5. The Bank finished second to make it a Takter exactor. Win The Day, Covert Operative and Caulfield rounded out the top-five to advance to the final. French Laundry is owned by Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. The sophomore trotting colt now has two wins from three starts this season. Last season, French Laundry had seven wins from 12 starts.

The Takter trainee’s career earnings now sit at over $368,000. French Laundry paid $2.30 to win. The $233,000 Goodtimes final will take place next Saturday (June 20) as part of the Pepsi North America Cup card. The post positions for the final were drawn following the eliminations. Here is how they will lineup.

1. Hemi Seelster

2. Caulfield

3. French Laundry

4. Canepa Hanover

5. Covert Operative

6. Rubber Duck

7. The Bank

8. Win The Day

9. Olympic Son

10. Iron

AE: Infiniti As