Mach Dreamer converted from a perfect second-over trip and then powered past rivals in the stretch to capture the $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold final for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers in 1:50.1

on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

With Rick Zeron in the driver’s seat, the son of Mach Three – Boy Meets Girl got away fifth in the early stages and watched as B P Chimo (Mark MacDonald), Dalhousie Dave (Paul MacDonell) and Keystone Raptor (Jack Moiseyev) exchanged leads through the first panel in :26.4. Race favourite Big Bay Point (Josy Jamieson) was surprisingly taken off the speed with Mach Dreamer following him back in fifth.

Keystone Raptor kept the front-end rolling and took the field past the half in :54.4. At that point, Big Bay Point moved out to start his bid, providing perfect cover for the eventual winner.

Keystone Raptor continued to lead narrowly as the hit the three-quarter mark in 1:22.4 and rebuffed the challenge from Big Bay Point. However, Mach Dreamer was full of pace and when Zeron tipped him to the far outside, he exploded to the front and won going away with a :27.2 final frame.

Dalhousie Dave found room along the inside and rallied to pick up the place spot with B P Chimo finishing third and Future Million (Keith Oliver) rounding out the top four. Big Bay Point faded badly in the stretch and finished 10th and last.

The winner returned $8.30 as the second choice in the wagering.

“I was confident he [Mach Dreamer] was going to be competitive but I didn’t know if he could handle Big Bay Point,” said winning owner Stephen Scarff of Halifax, NS. “Rick gave him a really, really good drive. He’s one of my homebreds and I’ve been doing this a long time. He’s one of the better ones I’ve had.”

The win was the fourth this season in 13 starts for the Murray Brethour trainee, who improved his seasonal earnings to just over $173,000.

Emmylou Who, No Magic To It Deliver In Gold Elims

Emmylou Who delivered as the heavy favourite while No Magic To It turned in a mild upset in a pair of $40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations for three-year-old filly trotters on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

In the first split, Emmylou Who left from Post 2 for driver Lyle MacArthur and cleared to the lead past a opening quarter of :27.4 set by Angostura and driver Keith Oliver. MacArthur and Emmylou Who then took the field past the half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:25.3.

As the field turned for home, Emmylou Who widened her lead on her rivals. Ipromisenottotell and Phil Hudon rallied to finish second, beaten two lengths, after being far back at the three-quarter pole. Kenu Dance and trainer-driver Roger Mayotte finished third.

Emmylou Who stopped the clock in 1:55.3 for just her second win of the season while bumping her career earnings to $391,111.

The heavy favourite paid $3.30 for the victory for Ontario owners Linda Wellwood, Tammy Aspen, Anne Shunock and Diane Ingham.

No Magic To It upset heavily favoured Cross Of Lorraine in the second elimination timed in 1:55.3, as well.

Driver Trevor Ritchie steered the daughter of Kadabra from Post 5 and positioned her second as the field went by the opening quarter in :28, set by Jody Jamieson and Cross Of Lorraine.

Cross Of Lorraine took her rivals past the half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:27.4. As the field went into the final turn Highland Strikes and Mario Baillargeon committed first over and applied pressure to Cross Of Lorraine while No Magic To It enjoyed a ground saving trip.

As the field marched home, Cross Of Lorraine could not hold off the challenge of No Magic To It, who prevailed easily. Cross Of Lorraine stayed for second with Tommi My Girl and driver Kelly Sheppard finishing third.

With the victory, No Magic To It boosted her career earnings to $79,148 and scored a lifetime best in the process for trainer Per Henriksen and owners Asa Farms of Norwood, ON and Thomas Nurmi of Washington, DC. She kicked back $13.00 for the win.

The $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final goes postward next Saturday at Mohawk. Here is a look at the field in post position order:

1. Emmylou Who
2. Highland Strikes
3. Ipromisenottotell
4. Kenu Dance
5. Cross Of Lorraine
6. Miss Dangles
7. Random Destiny
8. No Magic To It
9. Tommy My Girl
10. Angostura

Mr Apples Upsets Bigtime Ball

Mr Apples rallied from off the pace the wear down 6-5 favourite Bigtime Ball in the $42,000 Open Pace to earn his second consecutive victory for his new connections.

Carrying a three-race win streak into the event, Bigtime Ball (Paul MacDonell) raced four-wide into the first turn and cleared the lead at the :25.3 opening quarter. He carved out fractions of :54.2 and 1:22.2 before Mr Apples and Mario Baillargeon made his move from third and out-sprinted Bigtime Ball in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:50 flat. Shady Cam (Sylvain Filion) was third.

Mr Apples paid $6.90 to win as the 5-2 second choice. He is now two-for-two for trainer Tony Montini and owners Albina Montini of Acton, Paul Giammichele of Burlington, Eazy Racing of Mississauga and Joseph Rogers of Markham, ON. The six-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Never In Paris has won six times in 22 starts this season and $122,335.

To view Saturday's results, click here.

(With files from WEG)