MOUNT DOOM, BC’s top two-year-old colt of 2024, picked up where he left off by winning his 2025 opener on May 24 at Hastings Racecourse. The speedy son of Bakken lead the allowance field throughout, setting comfy fractions (22.43, 46.10) under Antonio Reyes and had plenty in reserve to win by a confident neck in 1:16.90 for trainer Steve Henson. Lois Bennett’s SNAP TO IT was off a step slow under Amadeo Perez, leaving him at a disadvantage, but he rallied up the inside to make things interesting and had to settle for a promising runner-up finish for trainer Barbara Heads. Joe and Gloria Russo’s GO LENT GO was close to the slow pace with Kerron Khelawan in the irons and they battled to the wire, ending up a good third for trainer Patty Leaney .
The time was a solid 1:16.80 for 6 1/2 furlongs. Mount Doom, owned by Willow Creek Farms and Lorie Henson, was bred by William Stewart and was a $15,496 yearling purchase from the CTHS BC Mixed Sale in 2023.
Mount Doom won four stakes races last year and is now five-for-six in his career with earnings of $112,286. He is a half-brother to stakes winner Mount Asgard, produced from the mare A Song for Arbonne.
Saturday wrap:
The first race on Saturday went to Rob and Sheena Maybin’s ARIKARA ($4.20) who, after being dropped down in class off of a solid effort two weeks back, was bet down to even-money status and she did not disappoint her backers. Ridge Balgobin took no chances and put her on the lead from the outset (22.44, 46.60) and they were never seriously challenged, winning in 1:16.70 for trainer Rob Maybin. BFA Holdings INDYETTA had a nice tracking position under Kerron Khelawan and did well to take home the runner-up prize for Cindy Krasner. Don Danard and Mel Snow’s ROSE OF TEXAS was farther off the pace than usual, but still managed a solid last quarter-mile under Bebeto Harvey to be a fast-closing third for trainer Mel Snow.
Race 2
The second of the afternoon was won by George and Donna Gilbert’s COUNTERACT ($3.20), who encountered a more exciting trip than the connections would have liked, checking sharply entering the backstretch and almost unseating Amadeo Perez before he regathered himself, and rallying three-wide on the final bend to secure a hard-fought win in 1:18.78 for conditioner Barbara Heads. WYN Racing Stables KEEP IT COMING was content to settle early behind the speed, but when a series of bumps and checks happened in front of him on the first turn, he simply tipped out to avoid trouble and found himself on the lead through a pedestrian half-mile of 48.64, carrying his advantage to the head of the stretch before yielding late and finishing a clear second for Larry Grieve. Joe and Gloria Russo’s GO LENT GO raced up on the very slow pace (23.63, 48.64) under Learie Seecharan and proved to be third best for Patty Leaney.
Race 3
The third of the day saw Lois Bennett’s SUNBLAZE ($6.30) make an impressive move from far back, using the rail as a friend before Amadeo Perez angled her out in the stretch and they just got up in the last jump for the victory in 1:17.20 for trainer Barbara Heads. Roy and Dixie Jacobson’s ANNIKA’S SONG was prominent early, pressuring a sensible early pace (23.44, 46.94) with Kimal Santo at the controls, and they led into the lane and stayed on gamely, just missing by a scant nose for Mark Cloutier. White Hall Farms I’M IN CONTROL was taking on older fillies and she left the gate best, leading to the stretch in an impressive 2025 debut and stamping herself as a top threat in the first three-year-old filly stake in three weeks’ time for trainer Keith Pedersen.
Race 4
The fourth race was won by Dreamtime Stables, RKR Racing and Nancy Betts’ THOMPSON ($6.40), who bided his time behind the early pace, then put in another successful stretch run to earn his second win of the season with Amadeo Perez up in 1:16.91 for trainer Nancy Betts. Mort Hall and Praven Sorensen’s DREAMB was also far back off the speed and put in a solid inside run with Antonio Reyes in the tack to claim the second spot for trainer Barbara Heads. Hastings Racing Club’s PRINCE CAIRO showed excellent gate speed and challenged for the lead early (22.34, 46.18) under an aggressive Bebeto Harvey and they won the pace battle, finishing a very good third for trainer Tammy Snow.
Race 6
The last of the day went to TC Racing’s TEX HANLEY ($17.70), who was well ridden by Kimal Santo, taking the front end when nobody showed any initiative and guiding him through comfortable splits (22.95, 46.93) before drawing clear late and proving much the best in 1:17.55 for trainer Rob Gilker. Jordan Froelich’s KOWBOYKABIN was hung out wide for much of the trip under Richard Balgobin but they still managed to claim the second spot for Dino Condilenios. G.O. Stables GROOVIN’ IS BAK broke alertly with Bebeto Harvey in the saddle and chose to settle on the inside behind the speed and they popped up the rail to get third money for Erick Gutierrez.
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