Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

$530,000 World Trotting Derby set for Saturday, September 4 at DuQuoin
September 2, 2004

Cantab Hall, the defending Trotter of the Year and runner-up in both the Hambletonian and Yonkers Trot, headlines a seven-horse field for Saturday's $530,000 World Trotting Derby for three-year-old trotters at the DuQuoin State Fair. He drew post one and was made the 8-5 morning line favorite after coming off second-place efforts in both the Hambletonian and Yonkers Trot.

Cantab Hall has won 12 of 16 career starts and earned $884,080. Hall of Famer Mike Lachance, who won the World Trotting Derby in 1996 with Continentalvictory, will drive Cantab Hall for trainer Ron Gurfein and owners Brittany Farms, Lindy Racing Stable, Jerry Silva and Sampson Street Stables.

Also in the field is Tom Ridge, who finished eighth as the favorite in the Hambletonian and was third in the Yonkers Trot. He drew post two and was made 9-5 in the morning line, and has won eight of 14 lifetime races and $606,152. Tom Ridge will be driven by Ron Pierce, who earlier this week was elected to the Harness Racing Living Hall of Fame.

Tom Ridge displaced his palate, cutting off his airway, in the Hambletonian and had corrective surgery August 11 in Lexington. He led the Yonkers Trot from the gate until deep stretch, when Windsong's Legacy and Cantab Hall overtook him.

Trained by Jimmy Takter, Tom Ridge has won eight of 14 career starts and $606,152. Christina Takter, Ken Ross, Peter Heffering and Banjo Farms own Tom Ridge.

"He's feeling good," Takter said about Tom Ridge, who led from the gate until late in the stretch in the Yonkers Trot, which was two weeks after the colt had corrective surgery for a displaced palate suffering during the Hambletonian. "He did all the work on the front (in the Yonkers Trot), and raced very well, I thought. It's just one of those things. He should be good Saturday."

Coventry, who was fourth in the Hambletonian, was the 9-2 third choice after drawing post six. He has won seven of 29 career starts and earned $330,127. Doug R. Ackerman will drive Coventry, who is trained by his father, Doug J. Ackerman. He is owned by trainer Doug J. and Ada Jean Ackerman.

Completing the field are Sky Watch (Dave Magee, post three, 10-1), Citation (George Brennan, post four, 6-1), Rumsfeld (John Campbell, post five, 30-1), and Rocky Balboa (Andy Miller, post seven, 12-1).

The World Trotting Derby, which is raced in heats, is scheduled as races five, nine and 13 (if a race-off is necessary). Approximate post time for the fifth race is 1:20 p.m. Central. For the ninth race it is 2:40 p.m. and for the 13th it is 4:00 p.m.

Below is the field for Saturday's World Trotting Derby at the DuQuoin State Fair. Horses are listed in post position order, along with drivers, trainers, and owners.
Horse                2004 Record                         Driver, Trainer, Owner(s) or Lessees
PP1 Cantab Hall      6-2-2-1      $422,743 1:54.0M   (Odds 8-5)
Mike Lachance, Ron Gurfein Brittany Farm, Lindy Rcg, J. Silva, Sampson St.

PP2 Tom Ridge       6-2-2-1 $223,115 1:52.3M (Odds 9-5)
Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter, C. Taker, K. Ross, P. Heffering, Banjo Farms

PP3 Sky Watch        9-2-1-1 $24,247 1:57.3M (Odds 10-1)
Dave Magee, Ron Gurfein, M. Magerko

PP4 Citation           9-2-1-2      $40,764 1:56.3M (Odds 6-1)
George Brennan, J. Johnson, Arden Homestead Stb., A. Skoglund

PP5 Rumsfeld        4-1-0-0 $2,785 Q1:57.4M (Odds 30-1)
John Campbell, P. Buer, Joie De Vie Farm

PP6 Coventry          13-3-3-2      $225,744 1:56.1F (Odds 9-2)
DR Ackerman, DJ Ackerman, D.J. & A. Ackerman

PP7 Rocky Balboa    8-1-0-1      $24,279 1:55.1M (Odds 12-1)
Andy Miller, Brett Pelling, Rojan Stables, Doc & Me Inc.

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