With six $18,000 Ontario Sires Stakes divisions for three-year-old pacing colts on the 11-race docket, Kawartha Downs hosted its richest program of the 2016 racing season on Saturday night (August 13).

Despite the wild swings in the weather, tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings, lots of rain before and during the card, Saturday night also produced the fastest miles of the meet to date.

Gord Brown, KD’s leading driver for many years, kicked off the OSS action by winning the first division with Sports Authority, who went gate-to-wire in 1:51.2 -- the fastest mile of the night which was also a new life mark for the three-year-old son of Sportswriter. Sports Authority notched his sixth win from 11 tries this year. Luc Blais trains the winner for owner Determination of Montreal, Que.

Driver Billy Davis Jr. -- whose father was the outstanding horseman, the late Bill Davis, who started his career at Kawartha -- made a rare appearance at the Fraserville, Ont. oval a memorable one as he scored four wins including an OSS victory with Daylight Rush. The Art Colony gelding, trained by Blake MacIntosh, was an easy two-length winner in 1:53.2.

Davis Jr.'s other wins were with No Worries Mon, City Charm and Mac Raider. The latter win was in the Kids Club Pace, where Davis Jr. absolutely thrilled young Ashton McKinlay, who had won the opportunity to make the Kids Club presentation to the winning driver. Davis Jr. in turn gave the new harness fan his whip.

Mike Saftic also made a rare appearance at KD and scored a hat trick, which included two OSS victories -- the first with St Lads Moonwalk in 1:52.2 for trainer Jack Darling, and he ended the night winning the final division with Imsporty in 1:53 for the Rob Fellows stable.

Other OSS division winners were the Casie Coleman-trained Blaise MM Hanover and driver Travis Henry in 1:52.4, and Arsenic in 1:53.4 in rein to Alfie Carroll for trainer Scott McEneny.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Kawartha Downs.

(With files from Kawartha Downs)