Betty Bootz Off caused an upset in the $11,000 STAWA/TABtouch Trotters Cup on Monday at Pinjara, when she lead all the way over the 2631m standing start trip to win by a comfortable 27.3m margin for trainer Kendall Laidlaw and driver Chris Lewis.
“I said to him (Chris Lewis), if all goes well and she’s leading after the first turn, I was more than happy for him to keep the lead and she was fit enough going into Mondays race, and I thought if she gets tired, she gets tired, but if she can keep the lead and roll even quarters, or evens enough, she should be able to run a good race.
“So, I’m glad that worked out.”
With a string of top five finished in her 10 starts back, the win on Monday although not expected, came as no real surprise, as the break and foaling has matured her, according to Kendall Laidlaw
The nine-year-old, who hasn’t won since August 2022 was put in foal at the end of the 2022 season, resulting in a filly by Classic Connection FRA.
“I just wanted her to mature and grow up, so I got a foal out of her.
“She kept doing things wrong, and I’ve heard of people doing it in the past, so I thought I would give it a go.”
Betty Bootz Off returned to trials on the 4th of December 2024, and just 12 days later returned to racing, finishing third at Pinjarra.
Her yearling filly is currently being handled and float trained by Laidlaw, in preparation for heading down to Shane Young for her first educational preparation.
In WA, there are currently no juvenile trotters’ races, which limits their early racing opportunities, and although Laidlaw has no plans to rush the filly, if she shows promise early on, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of heading to the east with her.
Betty Bootz Off returns to Pinjarra next Monday, June 9, for another standing start, this time over the shorter 2116m trip.
Image: Photography by Jodie Hallows
Ashleigh Paikos