Three-year-old pacing colt St Lads Moonwalk ($3.80), a top Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots point-earner this season, made his Miracle Mile debut a winning one for new owner Kellogg Racing Stables LLC, capturing Saturday (October 8) evening's featured $7,900 pacing event at Vernon Downs in decisive fashion.
The Mach Three colt enjoyed success in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series through the summer, earning his two most recent preliminary-event wins from off the pace. Tonight, Chris Lems put him in play from the outset, working clear of Major War (Truman Gale) after a :26.2 first quarter, rating a :57 middle half, and sprinting clear of the competition upon cornering for home. St Lads Moonwalk evaded his three foes by four and a quarter lengths, prevailing in 1:51.2 in his first start for trainer Jackie Rousse. Modern Gesture (Fern Paquet Jr.) captured second off a conservative stalking journey, and Flying Cowboy (Mike Merton) stayed even for third while Major War faded in the home straight off a failed bid from the pocket.
For St Lads Moonwalk, the win was the 12th of his fledgling career. For Lems, the win was the cornerstone of a driving grand slam following his five-win night on Friday. Lems additionally paired up with Gary Gibson trainee Some Major Beach ($4.80, 1:54.2) as well as Jordan Hope trainees Flashy Trick ($3.90, 1:53.1) and Hurrikane Bud K ($10.60, 1:54.1).
(With files from Vernon Downs)