Hellabalou Triumphs In Camluck Classic
Half-mile track specialist Hellabalou invaded the The Raceway at Western Fair District to take top honours in the 2024 edition of the $150,000 Camluck Classic Invitational Pace, presented by Seelster Farms, as the London, Ont. meet wrapped up in front of a packed grandstand on Friday, May 31.
Hellabalou marked trainer Ron Burke's fifth victory in the track's signature event.
Driver Louis-Philippe Roy took advantage of his inside post position and Hellabalou's gate speed to take command of the field of eight with trailing tier starter Poseidon Seelster (Bob McClure) protecting pocket position while Blue Hunt (Travis Cullen) and Linedrive Hanover (James MacDonald) fired wide into the first turn before eventually settling in line through a :26.4 first quarter.
Hellabalou continued to lead the way through a rated half in :56 with Blue Hunt back out first-up and Linedrive Hanover following the cover as they completed the first lap.
Blue Hunt was in the hunt down the backstretch, applying pressure to three-quarters in 1:23.3, but Hellabalou shook him off through the final turn. Linedrive Hanover then fanned three-wide and took aim down the lane, but 4-5 favourite Hellabalou lasted on the lead to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.1. Poseidon Seelster finished third.
"I was confident in the way that if we could take advantage of that rail position, I think it would have been a big difference, and that's actually what happened," said Roy of his pre-race assessment. "James kind of got into a tough spot because he had the six-hole there and I was able to control the race. And that horse [Hellabalou] makes it so easy for you to do it because he snapped off the gate really fast and then the second quarter was :29.1; it's not every horse that can be really aggressive off the gate and then slow down for you and relax for a quarter, so it's really a horse well suited for a half-mile [track]."
Roy said he remained confident around the last turn, but was impressed by the runner-up's game overland effort.
"I was still hearing 'Linedrive' coming so I was surprised how 'Linedrive' can be fast for a piece as well. So, like I said, the fact that he had to go around everyone, it made it a little easier for us, but that doesn't take anything off Hellabalou because he's a pretty nice horse."
Hellabalou, who earned his second Borgata Series title last month at Yonkers Raceway, now has two wins from 10 seasonal starts. The victory was his 28th lifetime and boosted his bankroll over the $1.5 million mark.
The six-year-old Sweet Lou-Magestic Blue Chip stallion is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Weaver Bruscemi and Lawrence Karr.
"Nights like this really make you love your work," added Roy, who last won the Camluck Classic two years ago with Richard Moreau trainee Jimmy Freight and also teamed up with Burke to win the 2018 edition with Rockin Ron in a 1:50.1 track record. "Every post parade you have people cheering for you and just the atmosphere with the crowd there, it's really nice. We can't be thankful enough for everybody that organizes these kind of events."
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