St Lads Popcorn Sets Track Record In Gold Final

Published: November 8, 2008 11:00 pm EST

Western Fair Raceway hosted a pair of $140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Finals for freshmen pacers on Saturday night and all eyes were on the four-time Gold winner, St Lads Popcorn, as she set a new track record.

The Twin B Champ miss and regular pilot Jason Brewer cleared the lead ahead of Shellace (Mike Sumner) before reaching the first quarter pole in :28.1.

As St Lads Popcorn passed the half in :57.2, Tomorrowpan (Jack Moiseyev) launched a first-over bid from third, but was only able to come within a length and a half of the pacesetter as they rolled to the third quarter station in 1:26.1.

With a :29.2 final kick, St Lads Popcorn triumphed in 1:55.3 by two and a quarter lengths.

Arts Star (Brad Forward) made a three-wide move at the third quarter pole and closed well for second and Take My Pulse (Steve Condren) finished third respectively.

The Jack Darling pupil scored her ninth win in 12 outings and lifted her bankroll to $412,323 for the Jack Darling Stables Ltd. of Cambridge, Ont.

In the $140,000 OSS Gold Final for two-year-old colts and geldings, Brewer engineered another winning trip aboard Shady Cam to pull off a 16-1 upset.

Stonebridge Terror (Mike Saftic) powered off the gate, but it was Shipps Xpectancy (Jack Moiseyev) who posted the opening panel of :27.1 as Shady Cam settled in seventh from Post 3. As the field approached the half in :57, Rescue Plan (James Morrill, Jr.) moved first-up with the heavy favourite, Nebupanezzar (Steve Condren), and Shady Cam following suit.

Still in command, Shipps Xpectancy rolled to the third quarter station in 1:26.2 as Nebupanezzar made a three-wide decision providing Shady Cam with cover. Entering the stretch, the son of Camluck surged to the wire with a :28.4 final effort collaring the pacesetter and a quick-closing Trail Boss (Doug McNair) at the wire in 1:55.4.

The three-time winner, who has earned $165,120 in purses, is trained by Rodney Duford and owned by Larry Pollard of Harrow, Ont.

To view Saturday's results, click here.

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