The New Holland Series finals at Woodbine-Mohawk Park were pushed back a week to April 1 after the previous week’s card was cancelled due to extreme wind, but for the 18 owners of Locatelli, it was well worth the wait.
The track-record holder inherited the lead on the final turn and held on to win the $72,000 New Holland Trotting Series final.
Driver James MacDonald fired Locatelli out from post eight to head towards the lead. Top contender HP Mama B pushed forward coming out of the first turn to grab the lead through a :56 opening half. Looking strong on the lead, HP Mama B suddenly went off stride racing towards three-quarters, leaving Locatelli to reach the third station in 1:25.1.
With Franks Angel a few lengths back and the others several more, Locatelli sealed the deal trotting into a stiff wind to win in 1:56.2. Franks Angel was second by a length and a quarter, while Sermon rallied for third.
“I know HP Mama B, when she goes for it, she goes for it all and [Locatelli] was struggling to keep with her,” said MacDonald. “When she rolled off, Locatelli is the kind of horse that’s tough to get by down the lane…he’s not the quickest horse, but he doesn’t like to give it up either. We didn’t have a whole lot left in the tank, but we got the job done.”
Trained by Harry Poulton, Locatelli is now two-for-five this season after turning in a strong 2022 campaign that saw him score seven wins and earn $145,300 in 27 starts. The five-year-old gelding matched the older trotting horse and gelding track record of 1:50.4 on Dec. 5.
“He’s a classy horse and I just can’t say enough good about him,” said MacDonald. “He tries and he gives you all he’s got and he did it again tonight.”
Locatelli now has $57,800 earned this season for owners TheStable.ca and Hutchison Harness LLC. The gelding’s career numbers are now up to 13 wins and more than $400,000 earned.
A $2 win ticket on Locatelli returned $15.20 to win.
(with files from Standardbred Canada and Woodbine Entertainment Group)