In fact, he found his way to victory lane three times on the Monday card thanks in part to another talented youngster from the barn of trainer Nicky Comegna.
We’ll get back to him in a moment, but first off – the trotting fillies.
Magical Glider rallied to win her $96,400 division for Christoforou and trainer Dustin Jones. The daughter of Glidemaster-Serenas Genie got away fifth before moving out to follow cover from second-over as the field moved to the half. Miss Loo Loo Belle doled out first-half fractions of :28.2 and :57.4 before being confronted by race favourite Alexus Eh as the group made its way past the three-quarter marker in 1:27.
Alexus Eh worked her way to the lead at the head of the lane, but she didn’t have staying power. When she weakened it was Magical Glider who sailed off cover and used a :28.2 closing quarter to post the win by 3-1/4 lengths over Uvie Hanover in 1:55.4. Apprentice M was third.
The daughter of Glidemaster-Serenas Genie is a homebred that races for Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc of Lakefield Gore, QC. The win gives her a 2-2-0 record from her four trips postward this season. Along the way she’s potted over $65,000.
Illusioneesta, who went winless in 10 starts as a rookie, captured the second division for Christoforou in 1:55.4.
The Per Henriksen pupil enjoyed a trip similar to that of Magical Glider. She tracked cover in the middle stages of the mile before unleashing a :29-second closing quarter en route to posting a 1:55.4 victory by three-quarters of a length over race favourite Sorceress Seelster. Stormont Chef took home the show dough.
The daughter of Kadabra-Shesa Priority has faced the starting gate six times this season and she’s managed to assemble a 3-3-0 record while banking more than $143,000. The win lifted her lifetime earnings past $250,000 for Harbor Racing Stable LLC and ASA Farm.
Monday’s card also featured a number of talented rookie pacers including Capitano Italiano, who sped to a 1:54.3 score for Christoforou and trainer Nicky Comegna.
The son of Captaintreacherous-On The Catwalk got away second before popping out of the pocket and muscling his way to the front in the backstretch. Once on the lead, Capitano Italiano stepped through middle fractions of :58.4 and 1:27.2 before using a :27.1 final frame to seal the deal by a length over Luziana. Arcane Seelster rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Capitano Italiano earned back $7,000 of his $77,000 purchase price from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale. Bruno Comegna of Burlington, Ont. owns the half-brother to the talented fillies, Social Scene (1:51.2 - $348,428) and It Was Fascination (1:51.2 - $319.216).
Jody Jamieson piloted Quebec Blue Chip to an eye-catching clocking of 1:54 in an event designated earlier on the card for freshmen filly pacers.
Jamieson got away fifth the Dave Menary pupil, who got to chase Crisp Mane through opening half fractions of :28.1 and :59. Quebec Blue Chip started up her engine in the backstretch, and by the time the field hit the half in :59 she was on the move from first-over.
She quickly accelerated to the lead and opened up by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:27.1 before using a :26.4 closing quarter to seal the deal by 3-1/4 lengths over Lofty Beach. Taking home the show dough was Twinsburg.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the daughter of Sportswriter-Hazes Zure Bet earned enough $7,000 – a nice downpayment on her $40,000 price tag from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Menary Racing Inc, Michael Guerriero, Kenneth Ewan and Bruce Norris share ownership on the youngster. Menary also trained her Shadow Play brother, Nvestment Bluechip (1:51.1 - $540,798).