June 3 , 2007
Track Record on the Turf at the Fort

FORT ERIE, June 3...The first turf race of the Fort Erie season produced a track record.

National Hero, with Chad Beckon in the saddle, drew off in the stretch and held off a late closing Get Down Wolfie to win Sunday’s seventh race. The final time of 1:21 4/5 (1:21.96) was a new track record for the about-seven furlong distance. The previous mark of 1:22 was set be Native Vigil in 1991.

“I tried to save ground on the backstretch but he wanted to go,” said Beckon. “I wanted to give him a breather in the final turn but he pulled me to the lead. He was much the best today.”

National Hero, owned by Stronach Stable, scored his maiden win at the same distance on the Fort Erie turf last year. He suffered a season ending injury in his next start at Woodbine.

“After the injury at Woodbine we sent him back to the farm,” said trainer Nick Gonzalez. “He went through a rehabilitation period and trained under Sean Smullen at Woodbine this spring, he was sent back here about a week ago.”

It was the second track record of the weekend for Gonzalez. On Saturday Tucci Stable’s Executrix covered four and half furlongs in a record time of 51.88 on the polytrack.

Post time each day is 1:05pm.

Daryl Wells
Media and Communications 1-800-295-3770 ext. 3204
e-mail: dwells@forterieracetrack.ca