Stage Set For Super Finals
The brightest pacing and trotting stars of the Ontario Sires Stakes program will make their way to Woodbine Racetrack this Saturday, as the Rexdale oval hosts the $2-million Super Finals.
The finals - each worth $250,000 – offer a hefty financial reward to owners, and in many cases the finals could also decide which horses seal up divisional honours.
The races will be presented in the following order on Saturday evening:
Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies – Race 2
L A Delight has been the dominant filly in not only the OSS this season, but the Grand Circuit, as well. The Bob McIntosh-trained homebred totes a 10-for-11 record into her assignment in addition to a bankroll that stands at $579,335. After tasting defeat in her first lifetime start, she’s rattled off 10 straight scores for the partnership of Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. The daughter of Bettors Delight-West Of L A and driver Randy Waples are scheduled to depart from Post 6.
Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies – Race 3
Caprice Hill rides a four-race winning streak into her Super Final for trainer Tony Alagna, who has recruited the Bionic Man, Tim Tetrick, to drive the daughter of Kadabra-Bramasole. The recent Peaceful Way Stake champion, who will start from Post 7, enters her assignment with 6 wins from 7 starts and purse earnings of $337,730 for owner Tom Hill of Hamilton, ON.
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts & Geldings – Race 5
Betting Line is the winningest and the richest in the field, and he’ll look to add to his impressive totals for trainer Casie Coleman. The son of Bettors Delight-Heathers Western will start from Post 5 for driver Chris Christoforou. The runner-up in this year’s Metro Pace is 5-for-9 this season, and his lifetime earnings stand at $356,258. He’s only finished off the board once for the partnership of West Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun and Mac Nichol.
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts & Geldings – Race 6
Tony Soprano pummeled the foes he faced in his latest Gold Series division at Mohawk Racetrack, and the son of Kadabra-Windsong Soprano will look to keep the ball rolling from Post 5 for Hall of Famers, driver John Campbell and trainer Bob McIntosh. The three-time winner from nine starts has racked up purse earnings totaling $161,430 for the Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, Mardon Stables, Paradox Farm Inc and Dave Boyle.
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts & Geldings – Race 7
Physicallyinclined and Reverend Hanover put on a thrilling stretch battle last week in the final Gold Series event of the season, and they’ll renew their rivalry on Saturday night. Physicallyinclined got the better of last year’s Super Final champ in their latest battle, winning in 1:50.2. Paul MacDonell will look to duplicate that feat from Post 4 with the Dr. Ian Moore-trained son of Mach Three-Artisticlyinclined. The career winner of $222,150 is owned by Nova Scotia partners, Bruce McGean and Sterling Feener. Reverend Hanover will do his best to win back-to-back Super Finals for trainer Casie Coleman and driver Chris Christoforou. The son of Sportswriter-Razzle My Tazzle will start from Post 7 looking at add to his cash stash which stands at $371,976.
Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies – Race 8
Muscle Baby Doll and Elegant Serenity have mastered the art of winning races this season, and majority of the public’s dollars figures to be placed on their noses once again. Muscle Baby Doll, the runner-up in last year’s Two-Year-Old Filly Trot Super Final, departs from Post 2 for driver Doug McNair and trainer Tony O’Sullivan while Elegant Serenity and trainer/driver Roger Mayotte will be forced to deal with the dreaded 10-hole. Muscle Baby Doll is 8-for-11 this season, and the daughter of Muscle Mass-Have You Ever has racked up more than $437,000 for F Bellino And Sons LLC of Bronxville, NY. Elegant Serenity, a daughter of Kadabra-Elegantimage, is 6-for-10 this season for owner/breeder Doug Millard of Woodstock, ON. To date, she’s banked $388,683.
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts & Geldings – Race 9
This tilt appears to be the most wide-open Super Final on the card, and leading the charge is this year’s Goodtimes Stake champ, Hemi Seelster. The son of Holiday Road-Hollywood Beauty will start from Post 4 for driver Steve Byron and trainer John Bax. The career winner of $294,503 will shoot for his fifth win of the season for Parkhill Stud Farm, Matthew Bax, John Houston and Goin To The Show Stable. Ironically, he’s the only starter in the field that hasn’t won a Gold Series division this season.
Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies – Race 10
Wrangler Magic and Solar Sister enter their Super Final with great credentials, but they both came up disappointing in the final Gold Series event of the season last weekend at Flamboro Downs. Wrangler Magic, who captured the Fan Hanover Stake earlier this summer at Mohawk Racetrack, was third in her latest assignment. Sylvain Filion will drive the Stephane Larocque-trained daughter of Mach Three-Ja El Shamrock for Thomas Kyron, Dr. Maurice Stewart, Brian Paquet and Bayama Farms Inc. She’ll leave from Post 2. Solar Sister, who was fourth in her latest Gold Series assignment, shoots for her seventh win of the season for Team McNair. The daughter of Mach Three-Cabrini Hanover is slated to leave from Post 7 for driver Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair. The homebred has banked more than $600,000 to date for partners David Willmot and Clay Horner.
To view entries for Saturday’s card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Woodbine Racetrack.