Breeders Crown champion Dreamfair Eternal and runner-up Voelz Hanover captured a pair of $15,000 eliminations for the second annual Forest City Pace, a distaff companion event for the Molson Pace, held during Saturday night’s rich program at Western Fair Raceway
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In the first elimination, Dreamfair Eternal tracked down A Ps Money Maker for the close victory in 1:55.
Up Front Kellie Jo (Doug McNair) was quick to fire off the gate from Post 3 but it was A Ps Money Maker (Rick Zeron) who took control with the inside advantage while Up Front Kellie Jo settled for a pocket ride.
A Ps Money Maker posted the first quarter in :27.2 before taking a breather. As she rolled to the half in :57.3, Randy Waples sent Dreamfair Eternal first up from fourth and applied pressure to three-quarters in 1:26.3 with Call Me Yours (Dave Wall) on her back. The career winner of over $1.5 million continued to challenge the pacesetter into the stretch and got her nose to the wire first in 1:55 flat. A Ps Money Maker was right there for second with Call Me Yours finishing third. Arts Diva (Mike Saftic) was fourth.
Dreamfair Eternal paid $3.30 as the heavy 2-5 favourite. The six-year-old daughter of Camluck-J Cs Nathalie has put together a record of 13-4-1 in 19 starts this year while earning $818,820 for trainer Pat Fletcher and owner-breeder John Lamers of Ingersoll, Ont.
Voelz Hanover made a quarter pole move and cruised to a three-length victory in the second elimination without facing any major challenges along the way.
Insider starter Lady Latte (Doug McNair) put up the first quarter in :27.3 before Voelz Hanover and driver Mario Baillargeon brushed to command from fourth. The five-year-old daughter of Astreos-Vassar Hanover carved out the remaining fractions of :56.4 and 1:26 en route to victory in 1:54.4. Lady Latte finished second with Artimittateslife (Scott Young) and Sammy Syd (Mike Whelan) third and fourth.
Voelz Hanover paid $2.50 as the 1-4 favourite. The Ben Baillargeon pupil, who just surpassed $900,000 in career earnings, is owned by Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, Que. She has compiled a 2010 record of 5-7-6 in 28 starts while banking $244,880.
The top four finishers from each elimination will advance to next weekend's $167,000 final.
Saturday’s program also featured the opening leg of the Middlesex County Trotting Series for fillies and mares with Yorke Puddin, Ramona K and Tzipi capturing their respective divisions. The series, featuring first leg divisions worth $7,500, is for four-year-old and younger Ontario sired pacers and trotters that are non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of midnight September 1, 2010.
Yorke Puddin and driver Thomas Hamm went first up from third at three-quarters and kicked away to win by over three lengths in 2:02.1 for trainer William Hamm and owner-breeder 794495 Ont. Ltd. Ja Mar Stables of St. Thomas, Ont. The three-year-old Duke Of York-Sherhanys Beauty filly was followed by Striking Style (Mike Whelan) and Twin B Miss D (Trevor Henry).
Trevor Henry sent Ramona K down the road for a 14-1 upset in the next division. The four-year-old Son Of Grace-Dancing My Way mare won in 2:04.1 by two and a half lengths over Hunky Doodle Dori (Jody Jamieson). There was a gap of 10 lengths back to Wallstreet Gambler (Terry Kerr) in third. The John Braid pupil is owned and bred by Raymond Karn of Fergus, Ont.
Three-year-old filly Tzipi converted from the pocket to win the final division in 2:03.3 for trainer-driver Ryan Maxwell. The daughter of Striking Sahbra-Annandale prevailed by one length over pacesetter Love My Vett (Mike Saftic) and first over challenger Lightnin Laura Mae (Bob McClure). Francis Maybank LLC of Charleston, South Carolina owns and bred the winning filly.
For recaps and replays of Saturday’s eight $100,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Championships, click here.
To view Saturday's results, click here.