When driver Luc Ouellette partners Bestinthebusiness in their next assignment, the $50,000 Beat The Heat Pacing Series final on Saturday at Mohawk, the top driver hopes the end result is a winning one.
The homebred son of Another Mile - Tendin To Business, who has as a record of 4-5-1 in 15 outings this year, hasn’t been worse than second in his last three starts at the Campbellville oval.
“He is a big, good looking horse with a long gait,” Ouellette said of the four-year-old. “He tries and has talent. He gives you 100 per cent.”
In his Mohawk debut on June 16, the Stephen Davis trainee won his conditioned event by a neck in a new mark of 1:50.3. One week later on June 23, Bestinthebusiness finished second by a nose in the first leg of the Beat The Heat. He then found the winner’s circle from post 10 in last Saturday’s second leg.
Going into the Beat The Heat final, Ouellette remains optimistic that the Michigan-bred can overcome post 12, which has them leaving from the second tier.
“I have always raced him on the front or near the front,” said the Campbellville resident of the 17-time career winner, who has banked $136,194 in lifetime earnings for owner/breeder Brett Boyd Racing Inc. of Jonesville, Michigan.
“Having the 12 hole will definitely change the way the race is going to go for him. Last year, I had the 12 hole with All Tiger N and that didn’t work out so well because a horse got parked and just sat outside of me and I could never get into the race.
“Having the 12 hole isn’t an awful, terrible thing especially if the horses off the rail or the two-hole are able to get into the race a little bit,” he continued. “I think I would rather have a horse really into form going into a race than a good post and a horse that might not be at his best.”
Ouellette believes Bestinthebusiness is in good form.
“If we do get away mid-pack somewhere, I think he will give it a good effort," he said. "At the same time though, I think that there are a couple other horses that are competitive in there. It will be whoever gets the trip."
Junior K captured the inaugural edition of the series last year in 1:50 for trainer Robin Davies and driver Roger Mayotte.
Here’s how the aged pacers will line up behind the gate:
1. Doin Time Together – TBA
2. Roadside Delight – S. Condren
3. Lucky Terror – J. Jamieson
4. Sheer Desire – K. Oliver
5. All Tiger N – TBA
6. Keep It Real – J. Jamieson
7. Trend Spotter – J. Brewer
8. Ultra Jimmy – P. MacKenzie
9. Quinnman – A. MacDonald
10. Eagle Artesian – TBA
11. The Ladies Man – A. Byron
12. Bestinthebusiness – L. Ouellette
(WEG)
