As has become their custom, local horsemen Gregg and Doug McNair had a stellar evening in Ontario Sires Stakes action at Grand River Raceway on Sunday.
Competing in the Gold Series Consolations at the Elora, Ont. oval, trainer Gregg McNair earned two trophies, with two-year-old pacing filly Porsche Seelster and three-year-old trotting colt Buddy Hally, and driver Doug McNair picked up three, driving both of his father’s horses and three-year-old pacing filly Jan It Jackson.
Sent off as the fan favourite from post two, Porsche Seelster cruised to a two length victory in the fifth of eight $50,000 Consolations, besting Medoland Lindeylou and Goldies Mach. The 1:57.1 triumph was Porsche Seelster’s first victory in 12 outings this season.
Guelph, Ont. resident Gregg McNair conditions Porsche Seelster for The Merks Stable of New York, NY. During the regular season the Artistic Fella daughter recorded one second, two thirds, one fifth and one seventh in six Gold Series starts to rank seventh in the division point standings.
Buddy Hally’s three and one-half length romp in the sophomore trotting colt Consolation went some way toward helping his owners forget the division point leader’s disappointing eighth-place result in the Sept. 28 Super Final. The Angus Hall colt battled Tag Up And Go and Rock Of Cashel through much of the race, but was able to draw away in the stretch to the 1:58.3 victory. Tag Up And Go and Gotta Secret finished second and third behind the fan favourite.
Trainer McNair shares ownership of the $275,400 winner with Howmac Farms Ltd. of North Wiltshire, P.E.I., breeder Reginald MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I. and Wayne MacRae of Fall River, NS.
Doug McNair’s driving triple came with Isaac Waxman trainee Jan It Jackson, who went gate-to-wire in the sophomore pacing filly division, stopping the Grand River Raceway teletimer at 1:54.3. Leaveumlady and Marlee B finished two and one-quarter lengths back in second and third. Fan favourite and division point leader Pan Luis Obispo finished fifth.
Brenda Selwyn Waxman of Dundas, Ont. owns Badlands Hanover daughter Jan It Jackson, who ranked second in the division point standings and finished just out of the money in sixth in the Sept. 28 Super Final.
Grand River Raceway fans accurately selected the winners in five of the eight Gold Series Consolations. In addition to Porsche Seelster and Buddy Hally, fans sent off two-year-old pacing colt Play It Again Sam, three-year-old trotting filly Motown Muscle and three-year-old pacing colt Mach Pride as the favourites in their respective divisions.
Upsets occurred in the two-year-old trotting colt division, which saw Dontcheatonmenow best favourite Deweykeepumnwhy, the two-year-old trotting filly contest, which saw Torches Star emerge victorious over Marcella Hall and fan favourite Margie, and the sophomore pacing filly division captured by Jan It Jackson.
The Consolations completed the Gold Series schedule, and the 2013 Ontario Sires Stakes program will draw to a close with 16 Grassroots Consolations at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Monday, Oct. 14 and Tuesday, Oct. 15.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(OSS)