Twenty-one trotters went toe-to-toe at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday evening, as the Rexdale, Ontario oval hosted a set of $25,000 eliminations
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Canada’s recently crowned Driver of the Year in 2010, Randy Waples, captured both of the eliminations, and now he’s left with a tough decision when it comes to picking the right one for next week’s final.
Victom AS used off-the-pace tactics to win the first elimination in 1:56.4. Lexis D J and Flashback took turns on the lead through fractions of :27.3, :58 and 1:28.2, but they were no match for Victom AS when Waples called on that one for sprinting speed in the late stages of the mile. A :27.3 final frame was enough for Victom AS to earn the half-length decision over Winmecredit. Flashback finished third.
Sent off as the 2-1 favourite in the 11-horse affair, Victom AS improved his 2011 record to 2-1-0 in three tries. The four-year-old son of Striking Sahbra, who is owned by Emma Stable of Burlington, ON, is now a six-time winner who has banked in excess of $63,000.
Waples went gate-to-wire with Bookem in the other elimination. The four-year-old son of Ilooklikemymom chopped out panels of :28, :57.2 and 1:27.1 before using a :28.3 closing panel to hold on for a half-length tally over Roush Hanover. Race favourite Classic Alana was third.
Dave Menary trains the gelding, who was sent off as an 11-1 outsider, for Richard, Gerald and Matthew Latessa. The victory was the first of the season and the tenth lifetime score for the career winner of $81,435.
The elimination winners earned the right to select a post position for next Monday’s final, while the other eight finalists went into an open draw in the post position assignment process. Here’s how they’ll line up on the gate for the final:
$60,000 Don Mills Stakes
1. Winmecredit
2. Rudy Rocks
3. Victom AS
4. Bookem
5. Classic Alana
6. Roush Hanover
7. Zeus Lightning
8. Flashback
9. Lexis D J
10. Surclasser
To view Monday’s results, click here.