OSS Regular Season Wraps Up
The Ontario Sires Stakes regular season wrapped up with two-year-olds Kims Royal Day and Windsong Jack winning the last two $130,000 Gold Finals of the year on Saturday night at Georgian Downs.
Kims Royal Day, the leading two-year-old pacing filly in the OSS program, earned her first Gold Final trophy with a 1:56.3 winning effort over a sloppy track for driver Billy Davis Jr. and trainer Blake MacIntosh.
Elimination winner Macharoundtheclock (Scott Zeron) established the early lead from post four, but broke stride at the :27-second opening quarter mark leaving inside starter Kims Royal Day to inherit the top spot.
Kims Royal Day fronted the field through middle splits of :57.3 and 1:26.1 while Keep The Dream (Scott Coulter) applied first over pressure with the other elimination winner Adventurepan (Randy Waples) following her cover before angling wide.
But Kims Royal Day shook off the first over challenger around the final turn and opened up four and three-quarter lengths on the field down the lane. Eloge (Simon Allard) followed in second with Macharoundtheclock recovering from her miscue to grab third-place honours.
Purchased for just $1,500 at the Canadian Yearling Sale, Kims Royal Day has compiled a record reading 4-4-2 in 11 outings -- all but one start in the OSS program -- to earn $239,580. She is owned by her Cambridge, Ont. conditioner and Stuart McIntosh of Essex, Ont.
Kims Royal Day paid $9.90 to win as the 7-2 second choice.
Driven by Randy Waples, David Menary trainee Windsong Jack swept the final Gold Series event for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings as he held on to win in 1:54.3 in a photo finish.
Leaving from post five, Windsong Jack cleared to command ahead of Mach Pride (Anthony MacDonald) at the :27.4 opening quarter mark and cruised through middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.2.
Meanwhile, the other elimination winner Duc Dorleans (Stephane Brosseau) applied first over pressure with the leader's stablemate Tarpon Hanover (Scott Zeron) second over before tipping three-deep around the final turn.
However, Windsong Jack turned for home and held off Ok Fantastic (Dan Clements), who closed up the inside to make it into the win photo. Mach Pride finished two and three-quarter lengths behind in third.
Purchased for $48,000 at the Canadian Yearling Sale, the Santanna Blue Chip-Milliondollarsmile gelding has recorded five wins and four seconds in 10 starts -- all but two in OSS action -- to earn $261,500. The two-time Gold Final winner is owned Larry Menary of Cheltenham, Ont., Kenneth Ewen of Georgetown, Ont., Denis Breton of Welland, Ont. and Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford, Ont. With the win, he took over the top spot from Mach Pride in the divisional point standings.
Windsong Jack paid $3.10 to win as the 1-2 favourite.
The OSS year-end Super Finals for all eight divisions will take place on Nov. 10 at Woodbine Racetrack.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Georgian Downs.