Sunday, March 31, 2013 O'Sullivan, Bellino Stable Shine in Levy a rush with Casimir Jitterbug getting to the wire first to win By Bill Finley by a head. The Levy Series started with a win for the team of Tony Code Word was second. Considering the rough trip he O'Sullivan and the Bellino Stable and ended with a win for had, Foiled Again did well to last for third. the team of Tony O'Sullivan and the Bellino stable. "Last week, he got locked in," Bellino said. "If you watch Round two of the Levy the race he was loaded with pace and just could not get series at Yonkers began with ou t. He just didn't have racing room. When Eric got off the O'Sullivan-trained horse he said I think this horse could win next week. But Classic Rock Nroll we didn't know if he could win this race against those horses." (Rocknroll Hanover) finishing Going forward Bellino is confident that his pair will in a dead-heat for the win continue to perform. with 2-5 favorite Rockincam "I think I have two of the best in series," he said. "I (Cambest). About 80 wouldn't trade my two for anybody." minutes later, Casimir In the second leg, the betting public pounded Second Jitterburg (Sir Luck) scored Wind N down to 2-5 off a 5-1 morning line and the an upset win over Foiled wiseguys took their lumps as the 7-year-old broke. Again and others to Advantage Electrofire (Electric Stena), who inherited the complete a dream night for lead after the break, won for the team of Sears and Team Bellino. Andrwe Harris/Casie Coleman. "People always ask me Trainer Ron Burke got first Levy winner of the night when does your horse have a Something For Doc (Western Hanover) jogged in Race 8 chance?" Joe Bellino said. "I (continued on next page) always feel our horses have Eric Goodell had two Levy a chance. These two horses winners last night tonight, we won two legs, and I thought they were two of the better horses going into the Levy. Tony O'Sullivan has done an unbelievable job with them." Making his first pari-mutuel start of the year, Rockincam was the hot horse on the toteboard in the Yonkers sixth at 2-5. With Eric Goodell, who had been driving Classic Rock Nroll, in the bike, Rockincam got to the front and looked home free in the lane but the O'Sullivan horse came with a rush to finish in a tie at the wire. It was a big improvement for Classic Rock Nroll, who was a non-threatening fifth a week earlier. "He came into that race off long layoff," Bellino said. "I thought he'd be ready tonight." Brian Sears was the driver of Classic Rock Nroll. Casimir Jitterbug was a beaten favorfite in the Levy last week, finishing third as the 7-10 choice. Facing Foiled Again and Code Word, this looked like a tough spot for him to make amends, but this time everything broke his way. Sapphire City blasted off the gate with Brent Holland only to have Foiled Again go on the attack. Foiled Again got to the front but Sears and Razzle Dazzle went after him. Sears and Gingras got caught up in a speed duel, sizzling through a half mile in 54.4 and a second quarter in 27. Meanwhile, Goodell sat chilly with Casimir Jitterbug in sixth. With the early battle about to cook Foiled Again and Razzle Dazzle, Casimir Jitterbug and Code Word came with HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 3/31/13 PAGE 2 of 9 as the 1-5 choice. He was also an easy Levy winner the on the premise that the Peterborough Federation of week before. Agriculture put together a “not-for-profit” entity to continue Burke was back in the winner's circle a race later as racing at Kawartha. The “not-for-profit” setup was a better Annieswesterncard (Western Hanover) overcame the seven fit to the model proposed by the OMAFRA group (the panel post to win by three-quarters of a length over Shoobee's put together by the government to study funding Place. Versado, the 9-5 favorite, had a tough trip from post alternatives) according to OHHA General Manager Brian eight and checked in fourth. Tropea. Still, although the deal keeps the track open, Tropea wasn’t exactly doing a happy dance. “It keeps options open, but it’s not really a positive announcement,” he expressed. “It’s April 1st and as horsepeople we have no idea what the schedule or purse structure looks like in the province.” He also noted that the Ontario breeding industry continues to be adversely affected by the Slots at Racetracks deal ending. “There is no shot any of these Last Minute Deal Keeps Racing Alive at announcements will have a positive effect on breeding. It seemed many of the patrons entering the track were Kawartha Downs unaware that the 11th hour deal had been reached as they By Garnett Barnsdale were handed buttons by local horsewoman Lori Ferguson Kawartha Downs is still alive and kicking, barely. But local of Billyjojimbob fame, that were sponsored by local horsemen, track employees and racing fans were in an Progressive Conservative MPP Laurie Scott. The buttons upbeat mood at the Fraserville, Ontario 5/8 mile oval last had “Celebrate Kawartha Downs” printed on them and night on the heels of a last-minute transitional funding many were asking what was being celebrated as they agreement being reached with the provincial government just thought the track was closing. Ferguson who borrowed the before the lucrative Slots At Racetracks funding agreement $3000 to breed to Balanced Image and ended up helping ran out at the end of the month. No monetary details have deliver a future Elittlopp winner in Billyjojimbob concurred been released at this time.The track had arranged an with Tropea’s assessment. “This whole thing has caused elaborate farewell ceremony for the 40-year-old oval and so much pain, depression, anger and desperation for so many of the local horsemen brought memorabilia that was many in the industry,” she noted. “The last two breeding on display for fans to reminisce. Instead of the expected seasons have been trashed by what the Liberals have funeral-like atmosphere, however, the feel was one of relief done and the damage for breeders is irreparable! No and hope as many of the horsemen were visibly happy to matter what Ontario stallion we breed to now even with the still be racing, although with expected dates reduced from 92 race dates announced, our yearlings won’t be worth in 2012 to somewhere around 25 this year, the optimism was anything-not after breeding fees, stud fees, feeding the tempered. mares for a year then getting the yearlings to the sale. The “We went from breeders are the ones damaged the worst – I’ve been having a funeral breeding for 27 years – and I feel it’s not going to get to we’re not better for us…at all.” dead yet, so we The announcement that the track was going to stay in still have some operation was made by track publicity man Jim Huck along life,” exclaimed with owner Skip local Ontario Ambrose, Gibson Harness Horse and local politicians, Association including Jeff Leal, Director Dave Minister or Rural Gibson. “We are Affairs who was obviously instrumental in pleased that we helping close the are still in the deal. A large banner game. If we’re thanking the fans for part of the game 40 years of patronage was then they (the Kawartha Downs horsemen unfurled – one that provincial had been prepared thanking fans government) in expectation of last have to talk to night being the final night of racing in the track’s history. A trip down m em ory lane - 1992 Elitloppet us; if we’re out “Horseracing is part of our heritage,” Leal said. “We want winner Billyjojim bob m ade his Kawartha of it, they don’t.” to keep it going.” Leal thanked Ambrose, Gibson and all of debut in 1989, m aking a whopping $80! The last-minute the local politicians that helped reach the deal. An deal was struck (continued on next page) HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 3/31/13 PAGE 3 of 9 emotionally-charged Gibson then spoke thanking “everyone who worked so hard to get this done.” Gibson, as everyone else who spoke did, then thanked the fans, noting that without them “we wouldn’t be here” and pleaded for their continuing support. “Please keep coming out and supporting Kawartha Downs,” he asked of the crowd. “We are here now, we will be here in the future, and as far as I’m concerned, we’ll be here forever!” Huck, who also worked as the track’s race secretary for 5 ½ years was visibly choked up making the announcement that the track was saved for the time being. “I feel for these guys,” he explained afterwards “I owned horses and I know how hard they work and what they go through. It would have been a sad day if we had to shut down.” Track employees seemed to have mixed feelings. Starting car driver Bob Woodward who has been sending the horses off for 24 years was one of them. “We would have liked to have seen more races,” he began. “But…it’s a start”. Local groom Ryan Willis questioned the limited information that was available regarding the deal.