Dundas, ON --- All Bets Off lived up to his 3-5 favorite status to win the $188,057 Confederation Cup for 4-year-old pacers on Sunday night (May 17) at Flamboro Downs. Driven by Matt Kakaley for trainer Ron Burke, All Bets Off followed up his track record performance in last week’s elimination with a 1:51.3 front-end score in Sunday’s rich final.
The Burke trainee got away in third and was parked through the opening quarter, as stablemate Limelight Beach and driver Yannick Gingras were the quickest off the gate to grab the lead. Ideal Cowboy and driver Tim Tetrick, who got away in second, appeared to be tipping out to challenge Limelight Beach in the opening quarter, but Tetrick opted to drop back inside and follow Limelight Beach by the first panel in :26.2.
In the second quarter, All Bets Off and Kakaley did not sit on the outside long and powered by the leader to take the lead as the field of nine paced into the stretch and by the half in :54.4.
Tetrick tipped out from third with Ideal Cowboy as the field paced by the grandstand to challenge first up at the public’s choice. However, Tetrick and his charge would only reach the wheel of All Bets Off, who turned up the tempo to post a three-quarter time of 1:22.3.
In the final quarter, All Bets Off put aside the first up bid and created separation on Limelight Beach to cruise home and score a 1-3/4 length victory in 1:51.3. Bettorever came from eighth at the three-quarter pole to finish second, while Big Boy Dreams finished third. Limelight Beach and Ideal Cowboy picked up the final two checks, as they finished fourth and fifth.
Following the race, Kakaley talked about the action in the opening three-eighths of the mile.
“I just kind of eased back a little bit going into the first turn and let Yannick (Gingras) make front and kind of let the dust settle,” said Kakaley. “Then Timmy (Tetrick) popped the two-hole, so Yannick had to drive on a little bit more and it took me obviously a lot farther (to clear to the lead) than I wanted it to, but he’s a really good horse and he showed that tonight.”
A son of Bettor's Delight, All Bets Off now has two wins in three starts this season for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, The Panhellenic Stb Corp and the Estate of Rosemary J. Shelswell. The 4-year-old pacer picked up his 17th career win Sunday evening and pushed his bankroll to more than $1.2 million.
All Bets Off has now been driven by Kakaley to 12 of his career victories, including triumphs in the 2013 Matron Stakes and last year’s Art Rooney and Messenger Stakes.
“I love driving him and it’s been a fun ride,” said Kakaley. “He’s a good little horse.”
The biggest victories of his racing career have come on half-mile tracks, but Mickey Burke Jr., the assistant trainer for the Burke stable, believes that All Bets Off has the make up to be a solid racehorse over any track.
“I think he’ll be fine everywhere we take him,” said Burke. “He wants to win. He’s got quickness, he carries his speed, he just wins races.”
A $2 win ticket on All Bets Off returned $3.40.
The 2015 Confederation Cup was the 37th edition of Canada’s signature half-mile race, but was the first to be contested by 4-year-old pacers. Last held in 2012, the Confederation Cup was reintroduced this year with a new format.
All Bets Off made history Sunday evening, as he became the first 4-year-old Confederation Cup champion and joins an illustrious list of past winners, including On The Road Again, Jate Lobell and Somebeachsomewhere.