The Ontario Graduate Series for trotters continued on Wednesday night at Georgian Downs with Dabrina, Tymal Colossus and Calipari all scoring repeat wins
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Facing less than perfect racing conditions for the second straight week -- a sloppy track rated two seconds slow -- round two of the series was divided into two $15,000 divisions for the colts and two for the fillies. The series is for three-year-olds that are non-winners of $50,000 in 2011 as of Oct. 2.
Nordic De Vie was the only first time winner in the series' second leg and she kicked off the action in race two. She rallied off cover and collared pacesetter Mutinys Child and Mike Whelan at the top of the stretch before kicking away for the five and a half length triumph in 1:58.3. Quantum Victoria and Scott Coulter rounded out the top three finishers. Torgeir Hagmann drives and trains the Angus Hall-Nordicdish miss, who paid $11.30 to win, for owner Kjell Magne Andersen of Oslo, Norway. The first leg breaker, winless in three starts as a freshman, earned her second victory in 14 sophomore starts.
The Anthony MacDonald-driven Dabrina doubled up in the series with a 1:58 front end effort in the second filly division. Surveillance and Reg Gassien finished three-quarters of a length behind off a pocket trip while favourite Youlneverwalkalone, driven to victory by Anthony MacDonald in the first leg, rallied from last to show with James MacDonald in the sulky this time. Trainer Wai Man Yeung co-owns the daughter of Kadabra-Oaklea Ina with Rocco Auciello of Stouffville, Ont. Dabrina paid $11.60 to win for the second (consecutive) time in 15 seasonal starts.
Grassroots Championship starter Tymal Colossus was also a back-to-back series winner as he converted from the pocket and edged out pacesetter Hearthetrainacomin and Scott Zeron for the 1:57.4 victory in the first colt division of the night. P C La Mousse and Curtis Clements finished nearly seven lengths behind in third. Driver Scott Wray and trainer Jack Wray share ownership of the Striking Sahbra-Chiara gelding, who notched his fourth win in 11 seasonal starts. The favourite paid $5.50 to win.
Just like last week, Calipari advanced to the lead from fourth after the opening quarter mark and cruised to a 1:58.1 triumph with Jason Brewer in tow. Edit and Scott Zeron came on for second, finishing three-quarters of a length behind, and the Robert Shepherd-driven Random Holdup rallied home for third. Anette Lorentzon trains the son of Ken Warkentin-Sheena Hall, who is now three-for-eight this year, for owner Acl Stuteri Ab of Paris, Kentucky. The favourite paid $7.50 to win.
To view results for Wednesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Georgian Downs.