Tetrick drives Bar Hopping to win in $687,000 Canadian Trotting Classic

CAMPBELLVILLE, Ont. – Tim Tetrick drove Bar Hopping to an impressive 3 1/2-length win in the $687,000 Canadian Trotting Classic on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

Bar Hopping captured Canada’s richest trotting event for three-year-olds in 1:53.1 as Tetrick earned his second Trotting Classic victory. Trainer Jimmy Takter earned his third straight win in this race and fifth overall.

“We’ve got a lot of partners and great partners, so I’m so happy for this win,” said Takter. “I was due to win a big race with this horse because he is a very nice horse.”

Owned by Christina Takter, Hatfeld Stables, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, Bar Hopping earned his fifth win in 13 starts this season for nearly $800,000 in earnings. The horse now has six career victories and over $901,000 earned.

Three longshots stormed to the front while 3/5 favourite Marion Marauder got away fourth ahead of rivals Southwind Frank and Bar Hopping.

Scott Zeron of Oakville, Ont., sent Marion Marauder to the front in the second-quarter and took the lead at the half. Southwind Frank was pushed first up, allowing Tetrick to put Bar Hopping in a perfect second over position.

In the stretch, Marion Marauder created a little separation on his rivals, but that was quickly erased by Bar Hopping.

“There was enough speed in there and I was trying to find a good horse to follow,” said Tetrick. “Scotty horse was putting up decent enough fractions and my horse got to track him all the way to the top of the lane and he did the rest from there.”

Marion Marauder held on for second, while Bee In Charge finished third.

A son of Muscle Hill, Bar Hopping captured his elimination last week in 1:52.4 and went off at 4/1 odds in the final.

Also on Saturday’s card, Resolve captured the $632,000 Maple Leaf Trot. The five-year-old stallion, which was second in last year’s race, earned a 1 1/2-length victory over standout mare Hannelore Hanover, driven by Yannick Gingras of Sorel, Que.

Trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt guided Resolve to a winning time of 1:51.4 victory.

“He’s a really great horse and it was difficult today,” said Svanstedt. “He (left) very fast and then he was first over the second half so he did a very good job.”

Another son of Muscle Hill, Resolve was last year’s O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s top older trotter. Resolve earned his fourth win of the season and 14th of his career with over $1.7 million in earnings.

Five-year-old mare Shake It Cerry finished third. Swedish trotter Nahar, owned by Vancouver Canucks twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin, broke stride on the final turn and was 10th.