Every trainer likes to say that racing horses is often a game of luck. If that is the case Don Lindsey must be thinking he's in the right place by having Alexie Mattosie in the Four Leaf Clover Series at the Meadowlands.
Alexie Mattosie (Lisa Photo)
With victories in the opening two legs, the four-year-old son of No Pan Intended is among the favourites for Saturday night's $132,000 final. Since being placed on Lasix the horse has showed marked improvement with back to back wins of 1:50.3 and 1:49.1.
"I guess he was showing some signs of bleeding. That call was all Anthony's (Montini)," Lindsey offered from his Fergus, Ontario base of operations. Montini has taken over conditioning the horse while racing in the U.S.
"But he was pretty solid when he finished fourth in the final of the Aquarius Series. He's proven to be a very talented horse with a big gait and will to win."
Lindsey first learned of Alexie Mattosie in November when partner Will Alempijevic spotted the then three-year-old racing for Matthew Dupuis in the Grassroots division of the Ontario Sires Stakes.
"I checked out the horse and called Matt. I jogged him and we did the deal on Remembrance Day. After the first two starts I knew we had a talented horse.
"He has a few mental quirks but we've worked around that. The only disappointment came in the final of the Willowdale," said Lindsey who has a stable of 17 at his farm.
"The Four Leaf Clover final is a race that four or five horses could jump up and win it. I'm far from taking anything for granted."
Lindsey shares ownership with Alempijevic, Paul Kleinpaste and Dennis Mavrin. Alexie Mattoise has won $36,700 this season to date.
