Ontario Sires Stakes Gold elimination winner Stonebridge Tonic will head back to Western Fair Raceway on Saturday night for the last Gold final of his career, and his owners would love to see their handy three-year-old pacing colt pick up another victory over the half-mile oval

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“On the turns he hugs the inside and he gets around very easily,” said St. Thomas, Ont. resident Gordon Bryant, whose Artana Stables shares ownership on Stonebridge Tonic with breeder Angie Stiller of Arva, Ont., Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke, Ont. and trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph, Ont. “You never know what to expect with this guy, but in his last several races he has been pretty gritty. We are hoping he can do the same thing this time.”

In 32 starts over the last two years, Stonebridge Tonic has recorded four victories — two at Western Fair, one over the half-mile oval at Flamboro Downs and one on the five-eighths mile surface at Georgian Downs. In last week’s Gold elim, the son of Camluck--Glacier Express rocketed off the starting gate from the outside, hit the lead before the first turn, sat in the pocket through the bulk of the mile, and then stepped out in the stretch to score a neck victory in a track record 1:52.4.

Bryant was on hand for the effort, and the longtime standardbred enthusiast was delighted to have his colt’s name etched into the London oval’s storied history books.

“I’ve gone to London since I was a boy,” he explained. “So just as nice as the first-place result was the track record. For that to be my home track, to have the record — and I hope it lasts longer than a week — is special.”

Stonebridge Tonic was driven to his track record effort by Doug McNair. The 20-year-old reinsman will be back in the race bike on Saturday, and the pair will start from Post 5. Last week’s second and third-place finishers, Big Bay Point and Dalhousie Dave, respectively, have drawn Post 4 and Post 1, respectively, while two-time Gold final winner Mach Dreamer has drawn Post 6.

“Doug knows that track like the back of his hand,” noted Bryant. “I think the last two meets he’s been the top driver at London.”

Bryant expects McNair’s peers will be angling to prevent Stonebridge Tonic’s quick move off the starting gate this week, but he would love to see the easy-going colt get a similar trip in the $130,000 Gold final and be part of the sprint to the finish.

"In the last quarter he seems to say, ‘Okay this is what I’m here for,’ and then he turns it on,” said the owner.

“He’s the easiest-going animal. Before the race (last week) he must have yawned five times standing in the stall,” Bryant added. “Then he gets out on the track and gets ready to go.”

Bryant and his partners will be back in the stands on Saturday, and will be cheering Stonebridge Tonic home in what will be the last Gold Series start of his career. With 140 points accumulated through the first five Gold Series events, the colt has already secured one of 10 berths in the season ending Super Final at Woodbine Racetrack (November 13). In 19 starts this season, Stonebridge Tonic has only missed five cheques and a share of the season-ending $300,000 would be a nice addition to the colt’s $327,864 lifetime bankroll.

“The purses in Ontario are so good,” noted Bryant. “He doesn’t have a lot of wins on his card — it’s been rare that we’ve been in the winner’s circle — but he’s still done well.”

Stonebridge Tonic and his three-year-old pacing colt peers will make their regular series swan song in the tenth race at Western Fair Raceway on Saturday evening. The program, which will get underway at 7:05 p.m., will also feature the finals of the Middlesex County Trotting and Pacing Series in Races 4, 5, 6 and 8.

To view the entries for Western Fair's Saturday card, click here.

(OSS)