Toronto, September 1... Mach Three, driven by Mike Lachance, blasted out of the pack in deep stretch to win the $1,123,400 Metro Pace for two year-olds in a thrilling four-horse photo finish Saturday evening at Woodbine.

Flying down the middle of the track, Mach Three nipped Three Olives, Pacific Titan and an off-stride Western Shooter at the wire to win by a head in 1:51.4.

Owned by Linda Magid of Cambridge, Ontario and trained by Shawn Robinson of Hagersville, Mach Three went postward a close 5-2 second choice to stablemate Red River Hanover, who finished a disappointing ninth, in one of the most competitive renewals in Metro history.

After leaving from the seven hole and taking the field to the quarter in :26.4, Mach Three was passed by Brads Gold, then got shuffled further back as John Campbell, seeking a record fifth Metro win, fired up on the outside with Western Shooter to seize command after a half mile in :55.3.

Coming off the far turn, Western Shooter still clung to the lead but was challenged by Three Olives and Pacific Titan as the field of 10 straightened for home. Meanwhile, Mach Three and Lachance, buried in fifth place midway down the lane, were able to finesse their way to the outside and took aim. In a sprint to the wire, Mach Three put in his charge as Western Shooter, holding a slight edge on Three Olives in the battle up front, suddenly made a break near the wire. He finished fourth, but was placed fifth for interfering with Brads Gold.

"You still have to be lucky to get there on time," said Lachance, who had just arrived in time himself at Woodbine, about five minutes before the post parade, after driving Cobalt to victory in the World Trotting Derby earlier in the day at Du Quoin, Illinois. That took three heats and was the reason Lachance and Campbell were delayed in arriving for the Metro.

"He felt so good on the last turn, but I didn't know if I was going to have enough room to come up in the stretch," continued Lachance, a native of St. Augustin, Quebec, who was celebrating his first Metro win. "But I just left the gate and I wanted him to be close to the front. I was hoping for the best in the stretch and I got lucky, there was an opening and he was real strong. You don't know for sure if you're going to get there but you're just hoping your horse can reach. It's a long stretch here. A lot of things happen in the last eighth of a mile."

Mach Three, who won for the fourth time in five starts, picked up the winner's share of $561,700 from the second richest harness race in Canada, to push his career bankroll to almost $600,000. The son of champion Matts Scooter might very well be undefeated had it not been for a troubled trip in a conditioned event, August 11, when he suffered interference, but came on to finish just a half-length behind The Cammissioner.

Last week, Mach Three claimed the fastest of the four Metro elims, winning by almost two lengths in 1:51.1 under Randall Waples. However, Waples had to decide between Mach Three and Red River Hanover, another elim winner, both trained by Robinson. He chose the latter, thus Lachance inherited the drive for the first time on Mach Three.

He paid $7.40 to win, combining with Three Olives for a $47.80 (6-4) exactor. A 6-4-2 triactor returned $282.90.

Peter Pan Stables' King Tutpankhamen scored an upset win in the $100,000 Metro Consolation later on the Saturday program, notching a 1 1/4 length victory over No Contest Mindale and favoured Matts Waller in 1:53.2.

Driven by David Miller, King Tutpankhamen, a son of 1990 Metro winner Artsplace, found the pocket trip to his liking, as he chased Matts Waller through fractions of :26.2, :56.1 and 1:25.3. But in late stretch, the ‘King' awakened and motored by the pacesetter for his first career win in five efforts. Last week, he'd failed to qualify for the big dance, the $1,123,400 Metro Pace, by finishing fifth to Three Olives.

Trained by Ivan Sugg, King Tutpankhamen returned $14.50 to win, combining with No Contest Mindale for a $88.20 (2-4) exactor. A 2-4-6 triactor paid $139.90

Courtesy of The Little Brown Jug - May 13, 2002

By Tom White

Mach Three passed his first major test of the young season in winning Saturday's $300,000 Berry's Creek Final in 1:51 at The Meadowlands. Perfect in 2002 in three starts, Mach Three surged past Monsoon Hall and scored a 1 3/4 lengths victory over Mini Me with Soho third by two lengths.

Mach Three is among the early favorites for the $550,000-estimated Little Brown Jug scheduled for Thursday, September 19 at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair.

Owned and bred by Linda Magid of Cambridge, Ont., Mach Three improved his record to 10 wins in 12 career starts and hiked his bankroll to $l,126,028.

"He felt strong and was not working hard to do it," said Campbell. "I was pretty confident in him after last week. (Mach Three won his Berry's Creek elimination in 1:50.3 last week). He was pacing easily doing that speed. When I spoke to him he responded well. He's a fighter, like a little bulldog that doesn't give up." The son of Matt's Scooter was fourth by 2 1/4 lengths at the half, second by 1 1/4 at the three-quarters and in front by a nose at the top of the stretch.

Monsoon Hall finished fourth followed by McArdle, Cam's Fast Gun, No Contest Mindale, Art Major, Riptide Hall and Image Of Dawn.

Next up for Jug hopefuls are the $40,000 eliminations of the Max Hempt Memorial on Saturday, May 18. Eliminations for the $500,000 New Jersey Classic and $600,000 Prix De Montreal are Saturday, May 25.

Courtesy Of The United States Trotting Association - June 4, 2002

Mach Three Voted Horse Of The Month For May 2002

As selected by the USTA Publicity Department

by Paul Ramlow, assistant publicity director, the U.S. Trotting Association

The pacing colt Mach Three was one of the sport’s best during his freshman campaign in 2001, winning seven of his nine starts and banking $954,708. In 2002, he picked up right where he left off, winning his first four starts and earning an additional $183,820. Three of those triumphs came during the month of May, including a 1:51 score in the $300,000 Berry’s Creek Final. For his efforts, Mach Three has been named May’s Horse of the Month by the United States Trotting Association.

Mach Three was owned by Linda Magid of Cambridge, Ontario. She sold the horse on May 29 to Joseph Muscara of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania for a reported $2.2 million. He is trained by Monte Gelrod and was driven in each of his May starts by John Campbell.

Mach Three’s first start of the month came on May 4 in a $25,000 Berry’s Creek elimination at The Meadowlands. Starting from post five, he was parked on the outside of the track to the early lead in an opening quarter of :27.3. He was shuffled back to third, behind Soho and Brad’s Gold, as the leader reached the half-mile marker in :54.2. Heading to the 1:22.1 three-quarter pole, Mach Three was off the rail and moved up to second on the outside of Soho. He took over the lead at the top of the stretch and then held off the late charge of Mini Me to emerge victorious by a neck in a personal best clocking of 1:50.3. Art Major rallied for third, while Soho slipped back to fourth.

In the $300,000 Berry’s Creek Final on May 11 at The Big M, Mach Three got away fifth as Art Major took the field to the opening quarter in a snappy :27 flat. Mach Three improved to fourth on the outside, following the liver cover of Monsoon Hall, at the :55.3 half-mile marker. He climbed up to second on the outside of Monsoon Hall at the 1:22.4 three-quarter pole. Mach Three got a nose in front of Monsoon Hall at the top of the stretch, then paced away from the pack en route to an impressive 1:51 victory. Mini Me rallied from tenth place to finish second, a length and three-quarters behind Mach Three, while Soho picked up the show check and Monsoon Hall had to settle for fourth.

The final start of the month for Mach Three came on May 25 in a $25,000 elimination for the SBOA New Jersey Classic at The Meadowlands. Starting from post five, Mach Three went right to the front and was parked-out to the lead by Royal Mattjesty in an opening panel of :28 flat. Mach Three cleared to the lead as the field reached the half-mile marker in :56.2 and was never caught through subsequent fractions of 1:24.4 and 1:52.1. Mach Three held off Royal Mattjesty by three-quarters of a length, with Cori’s Gold finishing third.

Courtesy Of Meadowlands Racetrack

Mach Three Presents Campbell With Seventh M-Pace Win July 2002

John Campbell continued his dominance of the $1 million Meadowlands, winning the track’s signature event for the seventh time on Saturday night with 3-5 favorite Mach Three in a stakes record time of 1:49 flat.

Mach Three’s mile also equaled the track record for a three-year-old pacer set by last year’s Meadowlands Pace winner, Real Desire, on August 4, 2001 in the Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Mach Three [$3.20, $2.20, $2.20] was a length and a half winner over McArdle [$2.60, $2.60] and it was two and a quarter lengths back to Allamerican Ingot [$6.00] in third.

A son of 1988 Meadowlands Pace winner Matt’s Scooter, Mach Three posted his seventh win in nine starts this year and lifted his 2002 earnings to $1,016,095 for a career bankroll

“I knew there would be a lot of early speed,” noted Campbell, who won his 20th million-dollar race. “Put up a million dollars, and you’ll have a four or five of them leaving hard. I wasn’t concerned about the fractions. When I moved him [three-wide on the backstretch], I was sure of him. He was full of himself, just swelled up. He’s gotten a lot smarter about racing, has a great attitude and a lot of determination.”

Joseph Muscara of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, a 78-year-old construction executive, purchased.Mach Three for a reported $2.2 million just prior to the $500,000 New Jersey Classic Final on June 1. With his $500,000 winner’s share of the Meadowlands Pace, Mach Three has earned back $832,275 for Muscara.

“He’s a great horse,” said trainer Monte Gelrod. “I have to thank Bill Robinson [who trains the horse in Canada] to send me a wonderful horse to race in the Meadowlands Pace. We got it done. It was unbelievable; John was able to take him off pretty easily. To be able to back him off after 28.1 third quarter is big. [The $2.2 million price] looks like a steal now.”

Campbell, who is only four wins away from career victory 9,000, had won his first Meadowlands Pace 20 years ago in 1982 with Hilarion. He followed with wins in 1989 with Dexter Nukes, 1994 with Cam’s Card Shark, 1995 with David’s Pass, 1999 with The Panderosa and 2001 with Real Desire.

“I think things worked out really well for us and always seem to do in these big races,” said Mike Lachance, the driver of runner-up McArdle. “I knew from the start that they were sending them [quick fractions]. John [Campbell] drove a great race, making that three-wide move.”

Cat Manzi, inducted into the Hall of Fame last weekend, picked up third money driving Allamerican Ingot. “When you go for a million dollars, they’re going to race those horses,” Manzi said. “We got a great trip, third over behind great horses. You’ll get no complaint from me. We followed McArdle the whole way, got a great trip and used all of him. But Mach Three was too tough.”

Mach Three’s 1:49 mile -- with fractions of 26.1, 53, 1:21.1 -- erased the stakes record of 1:49.3 shared by The Panderosa [1999] and Real Desire [2001].

Campbell Chooses Mach Three

Coutesy of Trot Magazine - September 15, 2002

It’s official, John Campbell will drive Mach Three in Thursday’s $618,625 Little Brown Jug at the Delaware Fairgrounds.

Campbell, harness racing’s richest driver of all time, chose Mach Three over Art Major in the third of three Jug eliminations. Trainer Bill Robinson conditions both three-year-olds and gave Campbell the choice of the two. Mach Three, the Meadowlands Pace champ, will star from post six, while Art Major, the Cane Pace, Confederation Cup and Hoosier Cup champ will start from the second tier in post ten. Art Major has been listed as the 2-1 morning line favourite over Mach Three, who has been pegged at 5-2.

Mach Three Flies In Third Jug Heat

Courtesy of Trot Magazine - September 19, 2002

Mach Three matched the fastest mile ever in Little Brown Jug history (set by Western Dreamer in 1997) in winning the third heat this afternoon in 1:51.1. He was a comfortable victor over stablemate Art Major (Artsplace) and Fancy Schmansy (Jennas Beach Boy). The record was of little concern to Mach Three's driver John Campbell, though.

"We're only halfway there," commented Campbell who committed to driving Mach Three in the second heat prior to the draw for post positions. Mach Three is trained by Bill Robinson and owned by Joseph Muscara who purchased the Matts Scooter son from Ontario owner Linda Magid this spring for a reported $2.2 million (US).

Robinson will have three starters in the second heat, which will go postward at approximately 5:30.

The field and drivers for the second heat of The Little Brown Jug with a purse of $334,057 is as follows:

Mach Three Is "Richest Of All" In 2002

Courtesy of The United States Trotting Association

At the midway point in the 2002 harness racing season, Mach Three is the leading money winner in North America.