In his first start for trainer Richard Moreau, Fashion Frenzie paid immediate dividends with a convincing victory in the 2020 $250,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final for two-year-old trotting colts & geldings.
Driver Sylvain Filion hustled Fashion Frenzie off the gate for position along with Full Of Muscles, but Fashion Frenzie was on top for the first call of :27.2. Sweet Soul David (Denis St. Pierre) and Full Of Muscles (Trevor Henry) both made bids for the lead down the backside, with Full Of Muscles forcing Sweet Soul David three-wide. St. Pierre tapped the breaks with that bid, allowing Full Of Muscles to make the lead and hammer out fractions of :57.1 and 1:27.1. Favoured Macho Martini (Bob McClure) was poised second over behind Sweet Soul David and tipped into the three path around that final turn to take a shot at the leader, but Fashion Frenzie had something to say about that from the pocket. He powered past Full Of Muscles and handily held off Macho Martini to win by two in 1:55.1, matching his lifetime best. Macho Martini and Full Of Muscles completed the triactor ticket.
"He's more aggressive than I thought," admitted Filion after the win. "We had an issue with his equipment [before the race] and he ran off on me. We were able to fix the equipment, and he kind of settled down -- luckily -- and in the race he was pretty good.
When asked if he thought the delay helped his colt, Filion surmised that it did. "He was hyper in the paddock and when we came out he was much more relaxed so I think that helped him."
Owned by Quebec's Ecurie Francis Richard Inc. of Becancour, Ferme Auclair of St Antoine De Tilly, Pierre Guillemette of Becancour and Mario Bourgea of Stanbridge East, Fashion Frenzie (Archangel - Striking Fashion) boasts five wins from seven starts. The $7,000 London Selected Yearling Sale purchase has thus far banked $204,775 as a rookie.
This race was one of eight Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals contested on Saturday, Oct. 17. Check out the rest of the recaps in the OSS Super Final News Centre.