Nikolaou Claims Puss N Boots; Winners Jump in Lake

Despite spending a majority of the race well back from the lead, veteran jockey Chris Husbands knew that Nikolaou had it in him to steal the finish and win the Puss N Boots Cup on Monday at Fort Erie Race Track.

“I was just biding my time, sitting behind,” said Husbands after the race. “When I was coming on the last turn, he picked up like, ‘come on let’s go,’ so I said alright let’s roll, then we came around and he went right through to the finish.”

Sent off as a heavy favorite at 30 cents on the dollar, Nikolaou is owned by Mario Forgione’s Henly Thoroughbreds Ltd. The five-year-old by Maclean’s Music – Druidess by Malibu Moon was bred by Bernard and Karen McCormack in Ontario. It was the fourth win in 13 races for the gelding and this straight win since he moved to Fort Erie from Woodbine.

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Trainer Kevin Buttigieg said that while Nikolaou is a bit of an odd bird, he had faith in the horse.

“He’s a horse with a lot of talent,” said Buttegieg. “A lot of quirks, a lot of kinks, but we try to work them all out for the race.”

The $30,000 Puss N Boots Cup is run each year at the Fort Erie Race Track in honour of another quirky horse.

In 1961, a horse named Puss N Boots was leading a race at the top of the stretch, when he decided to veer inward and take a refreshing dip in the infield pond. In honour of his impromptu swim, Fort Erie Race Track holds the Puss n Boots Cup every summer. In 1996, owner Robert Elkins boasted that he’d jump into the infield lake if his horse Dancing for Beans won the race. Rider Francine Villeneuve brought her horse from last to first, sending Elkins for a swim. Each year since, the winning connections take the traditional jump into the infield pond.

This year, Kevin was still recovering from a leg injury, so his wife, Sarah, took the infield plunge for him, alongside Husbands.

Also on the September 4 card at Fort Erie, SHEBATOWN, owned by the Beat the Feet Racing Stable, won the $30,000 Horsemen’s Luminary Cup at 6 1/12 furlongs on the dirt. As the 8-to-5 favourite, the Sylvain Pion-trained filly came from almost 10 lengths off the pace to win by a nose under Jason Hoyte. The daughter of Jersey Town – Seeking Sheba by Seeking the Gold was bred in Kentucky by Charles Fipke. It was the four-year-olds’ fourth win in 11 races.

– with files from CT Staff