by Melissa Keith

After his 1:51.3 victory in the Goodtimes Stake final on Saturday (June 15) night at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Highland Kismet (3, 1:51.3s; $109,135) is suddenly a divisional star on the rise at the right moment.

Two years ago, only his owner/breeder, Mary Clark of Highland Thoroughbred Frm, Inglewood, ON, held the gelding in such esteem.

“I’ll tell you what, I give Mary full credit for staking him as she did, because in the middle of February [2024], I wouldn’t have,” said Mark Etsell, who took over training for Highland Kismet this January.

The son of Father Patrick—Highland Top Hill had not even qualified when he came into Etsell’s barn at Ideal Training Center, Acton, ON this year.

“When I got him, I was a little leery, because we already had a barnful,” said the winner of the 2023 O’Brien Award of Horsemanship, who also co-owned and trained 2023 O’Brien Older Trotting Mare of the Year Adare Castle. “I had 13 2-year-olds and 13 3-year-olds, so we were pretty busy and I didn’t really have the time it takes to sort one out, so I was a little leery, I guess would be the best word. But Mary had a lot of faith in him. She just wanted me to give him that second chance.”

When Highland Kismet came to Etsell in mid-January, he was still unraced, with a reputation earned under the tutelage of two previous trainers.

“I never had him as a 2-year-old,” said Estell. “Apparently, and I’m just going by what the owner told me, they were frustrated because he wouldn’t trot a turn.”

The gelding had “a few changes” to his shoeing this year, as well as “a little vet work,” said Etsell.

There were also equipment changes.

“He [initially] wore a massive burr headpole, a Murphy blind, and a gait strap,” said the Rockwood, ON-based horseman. “You couldn’t train him with anybody else at first, because he would lose his mind on the turns. He trotted fast on the straightaways.”

Etsell drove Highland Kismet in his first qualifier, April 26 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. They cruised to victory by over seven lengths, in a 1:58.2 mile with a :26.3 last quarter.

“He didn’t really show that high speed until we qualified him,” said the trainer.

The 2024 Goodtimes champ broke his maiden May 2, winning at Mohawk in 1:54.4 for his now-regular driver Bob McClure. Highland Kismet’s lone defeat in five starts to date came on May 23, when he swept down the Mohawk stretch to finish just a head behind Emoji Hanover.

Capturing his June 7 Goodtimes elimination in 1:54 over Private Access, Highland Kismet was the winning favorite over the same colt in the June 15 final. He spotted rivals a couple of lengths at the start, ending up four-wide early, but quickly took back to fourth along the pylons for McClure. A first-over brush past leader Private Access carried him to the half in :55.3.

The two battled into the stretch, where Highland Kismet pulled away from Private Access, winning by 3¼ lengths.

“North America, meet Highland Kismet!” announced WMP race caller Ken Middleton.

The 1:51.3 clocking matched Trixton’s stakes record for the Goodtimes, and is Canada’s fastest mile by a 3-year-old male trotter this season.

It is not the seasonal record for trotting colts on Canadian soil, although it’s frequently listed as one.

“I’ve told [the racing media] five times he’s a gelding,” said Etsell with a laugh. “I don’t know what else to say. He was gelded last year at some point.”

The news hadn’t reached many in the industry, leading to some confusion among people watching Highland Kismet’s rapid progress.

“The day I qualified him, Myron Bell from Brittany Farms called me,” said Etsell. “He was calling me because he was excited that Highland Kismet was a colt.”

While not a future stallion prospect, Highland Kismet is definitely a gelding to watch this year.

“He’s a special animal, that’s for sure,” said Etsell. “He’ll do whatever you ask of him.”

Off the track, the gelding is a horse who takes care of himself.

“He lies down a lot; he likes to eat,” said Etsell. “He’s just what you like to see. The horse likes everybody. He’s just come into himself.”

Caretaker Raymond Roach is also part of the winning team behind Highland Kismet. Before the Goodtimes final, Roach ate his dinner alongside the gelding in the Mohawk paddock.

“He worked with thoroughbreds and this is his first go with standardbreds,” said Etsell. “He loves his horses, but he was also under strict instructions not to leave him that night.”

Highland Kismet is a homebred, still owned by Highland Thoroughbred Frm. His dam, Highland Top Hill (5, 1:52.4s; $148,624) was also bred and owned by Clark’s farm, as was her dam, Highland Image (3, 1:54.1s; $17,823), who has since been exported to Italy.

Etsell praised Clark for her “generations of confidence and hopefulness” in Highland Kismet’s maternal family.

“It’s funny because she had a couple of yearlings this year, and her plan was to keep them and sell the mares,” he said. “Now, she’s keeping his dam.”

Highland Kismet is Highland Top Hill’s first foal. The mare has since produced a full sister, Highlandstarburst, now 2. A yearling half-brother by Greenshoe, Highland Destiny, is now in Etsell’s stable. Highland Top Hill’s 2024 foal is a King Of The North filly, Highland Firen Ice.

Etsell said Clark’s foresight is paying off in Highland Kismet.

“I give her kudos,” said Etsell. “This is her first major stakes winner, ever. She’s been in the business a long time, so she’s just floating. She’s really happy and excited to go to New Jersey at the end of July.”

With one more start expected at Mohawk before Highland Kismet makes his American debut in the July 13 Stanley Dancer Stake at The Meadowlands, the gelding’s owner, trainer, and driver share one goal.

“In all honesty, he’s going to the Hambo unless he can’t,” said Etsell.