Champlain Stakes double for Father Patrick

Exciting young trotting stallion Father Patrick sired two of the three winners of the Champlain Stakes divisions for 2YO trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park over the weekend, with the well-bred Panem taking out one of the $98,299 fillies splits and Synergy the sole $182,876 division for colts and geldings.

The Nancy Johansson trained Panem took the lead before the half and never gave her rivals a look in with champion kiwi reinsman Dexter Dunn allowing her to run to the line under her own steam, crossing a length and a half clear of the second placed-getter in a time of 1:55.8.

It was daughter of Father Patrick’s maiden win, taking her earnings to $62,206.

A Diamond Creek Farm homebred, Panem is the first foal out of the Credit Winner mare Katniss, a full sister to the world champion, millionaire square-gaiter Dejarmbro.

In the sole colts and geldings division, the Per Engblom trained Synergy got the better of fellow favourite Port Perry in the closing stages, dashing through on the rail to nab the win by a nose.

It was the Peter Haughton Memorial elimination winner’s third win from four race-day starts and improved the promising freshman’s earnings to $121,854.

A $275,000 Lexington Select purchase, Synergy is out of the Muscles Yankee mare Southwind Sauna, a  winning full sister to the 2008 Canadian 2YO Trotting Colt of the Year, Federal Flex.

Father Patrick is currently North America’s second leading sire of 2-year-old trotters – behind only the great Muscle Hill.