Four divisions the Ontario Graduate Series for three-year-old pacers went postward at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening, with two divisions for the boys and a pair for the ladies
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Just Asign To Me got the job done in his $15,000 assignment, and he did so as the longest shot on the board. Sent off at odds of 12-1, the son of Geartogear-Justasign Hanover got away last in the six-horse affair before using a :28.2 closing panel to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Lucky Encounter in 1:53. Race favourite Hold Your Hat rounded out the top three finishers.
Scott Coulter mapped out the winning trip for the Bruce Gilkinson-trained gelding, who is owned by the Cat Sass Stable of Listowel, ON. It was the 11th lifetime tally for the pacer, who won for the second time this season in 19 tries. He’s stashed away more than $177,000 to date.
After stepping to a career-best clocking of 1:52 in last week’s opening leg assignment, Del Rio Seelster returned to the oval and survived a first-over journey en route to posting a 1:54 score for driver Scott Zeron. The son of Western Maverick-Demi Seelster prevailed by a length over even-money favourite Mach It Big, with Lyons Elite taking home third prize.
John Pentland trains the gelding for Natalie Pentland of Dorchester, Synerco Ventures Inc of Toronto and Clarence Devos of Langton, ON. After going unraced as a rookie, the pacer has manufactured a 4-1-1 record from nine trips postward this season. He’s stashed away $42,650 along the way.
Pearl Handlepistol disappointed as the favourite in the opening leg of the series, but she bounced back with a winning effort in tonight’s second leg assignment for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Chad Milner. The daughter of Mach Three-Pearl Berley sat fourth for most of the mile before using a :28.4 closing panel to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Montenegro in 1:54.3. Third prize went to Almost Lucky.
Jim Carr of Hamilton, ON holds the papers on the four-time winner, who has banked more than $59,000 in her career.
Epoxy Queen throttled the foes she faced in last week’s opening leg assignment, and she was much the best in Tuesday’s second leg effort for trainer Eric Adams and driver Steve Byron. The homebred daughter of Camluck-Tropicana Chris rolled to the lead and zipped through fractions of :26.4, :57 and 1:25.3 before using a :29.3 final frame to secure the two-length triumph over Lucky Taryn in 1:55.1. Highland Candy Bar tagged along to finish third.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Epoxy Queen improved her 2011 record to 5-0-0 in 11 tries for the Millar Farms of Newmarket, ON. The nine-time winner has now earned in excess of $138,000.
The card also featured a $15,000 Preferred Trot, and the class-hiking Adam T pushed his winning streak to two-in-a-row thanks to a 1:56.4 in the trotting feature for trainer/driver Shane Weber. The nine-year-old son of Angus Hall-Cool Reins sat second to the quarter pole before brushing to the top and supplying middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:27.2. A :29.2 final quarter sealed the deal for the 2-1 favourite, who was 2-1/4 lengths better than runner-up Chinnys Wings. Brown Town Left grabbed the show dough.
Tom and Elizabeth Rankin of St. Catharines, ON bred and own the veteran who won for the fourth time this season and for the 24th time in his career. He’s put close to $540,000 on his card to date.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Georgian Downs.