Master Lavec - 2CT
Bay colt, 2, Mr Lavec -- Super Shann, by Speed in Action
Owners
Ann-Mari Daley & Robert Pergament
By October the freshman trotting class usually coalesces into a closely matched group vying for year-end honors in the showcase provided by the Breeders Crown. 1999 was no different, and three eliminations were needed to determine a field of 10 trotters. The eliminations were won by local favorite Earl Of Stormont, a three-quarter brother to past champion Lord Stormont, who scored in his elimination at nearly 40-1; Dreamaster, steered by Dave Magee to wins in his last five stakes starts; and Super Spicy, the latest offering from the Ivan Sugg stable, a colt Sugg thought so highly of he referred to him as "my retirement horse".
Also included in the final was Berndt Hanover, a $400,000 purchase well on his way to earning that price back for trainer Bob McIntosh, the fast-improving Monte Hall, who represented John Campbell's hope for his first trophy in the 1999 series, Smok'n Lantern, the Peter Haughton memorial winner and richest of the group with $386,932 in earnings, Thunderous from the prestigious connections of Moni Maker, and Credit Winner, Per Eriksson's charge with nary a missed check in three starts. Ray Schnittker had another of his precocious trotters, Armbro Trick, ready to roll and the sole newcomer in the driving ranks in the $450,700 event, Dan Daley, brought his New York sire stake star Master Lavec to Mohawk with a Crown title in mind.
The public may not have shared Daley's belief in Master Lavec's ability. He had squeaked into the final after a fourth place finish on money earnings. Master Lavec faded badly in the stretch after opening a multiple length lead. The bettors could not be faulted for their skepticism after that performance.
But Daley knew it was not a characteristic mile for his colt, and was sure he knew the reason for the elimination clunker, which he called "the longest, worst drive of my life." Master Lavec had been bedded down on wood shavings at Mohawk, and an endoscopic examination of his throat after the race showed it was sore and swollen. For the Crown final he was switched to a straw stall, to which he had no allergic reaction. Convinced he had a healthy horse, even the dreaded ten post didn't dissuade Daley from reverting to his normal style of leaving hard from the gate in the final. Master Lavec had been the favorite in all but one of his previous 11 starts. Now, after his poor showing in the elimination, he was let go at 17-1. But Daley didn't have the tote board in mind. He knew what he was sitting behind, and besides he was counting on his wife, Ann-Mari, who co-owned the colt with retired hardware magnate Bob Pergament. Ann- Mari had gotten into the habit of going to the head of the stretch whenever Master Lavec raced and shouting out the offer of his favorite snack, apple treats.
Trainer | Driver
Dan Daley
Daley bolted out for the lead and hit the first eighth in 13.1. Daley had made up his mind to win or lose on the lead. He was ready to rebuff all comers, but not one could get close enough to the mercurial colt to even threaten his lead. Around the last turn, Daley pulled the earplugs and Master Lavec cruised off to a three-length 1:56.4 victory, a new lifetime mark.
Master Lavec's win represented 25 years of hard work and sacrifice for Dan and Ann-Mari Daley, and a gleaming accomplishment for Bob Pergament who owns standardbreds, thoroughbreds and grand prix jumpers. No matter what the future brings, Master Lavec's name is permanently in the record books for his extraordinary 1999 season of 10 wins in 12 starts and $533,781 in earnings. Monte Hall and John Campbell were next across the wire for second, and Haughton winner Smok'n Lantern followed up third. A son of Mr. Lavec and the Speed In Action mare Super Shann, Master Lavec represents a great outcross as a sire. The storybook tale of Daley driving six hours in a $300 car to be first in line on a trotting yearling he saw in a field from Massachusetts breeder Lawrence Burris was great fodder for the press, though Master
Purse $662,529
Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, ON - October 29, 1999
Extras
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