Freshmen Stonebridge Tonic and Bp Chimo were the pacing stars of the night at Western Fair Raceway winning their respective $40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations. Friday’s action packed card also featured the second leg of the Middlesex County Series
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In the first elim, Driver Doug McNair and Stonebridge Tonic got away second from the inside post behind Adrenaline (Trevor Henry) while heavy favourite Grin For Money (Sylvain Filion) made an early miscue leaving him over 15 lengths in arrears. McNair sent the 8-1 fourth choice to the front before the first quarter in :27.3 and led the way to the half in :57.2 before feeling pressure from Political Terror (Jack Moiseyev) en route the three-quarters in 1:26.4. At that point, Political Terror jumped it off leaving the leader three lengths in the clear. The Camluck-Glacier Express colt stopped the clock in 1:56.3.
Grin For Money managed to make up lost ground as he came on for second. Code Word (Robert Shepherd) rallied off Political Terror’s cover in the stretch to get third, but was placed back to fifth for causing interference to Windsong Gorgeous (Anthony MacDonald), who was three deep at three-quarters. As a result of the placing, Adrenaline inherited third.
Gregg McNair trains and owns the winning bay with Artana Stables of St. Thomas, Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke and breeder Angie Stiller of Arva, Ont. The win was Stonebridge Tonic’s first of his career. The Battle Of Waterloo runner-up now sports a bankroll of $149,019.
In the second elim, the James Barton-trained Bp Chimo converted a pocket trip into a 1:56 score in rein to Phil Hudon. Leaving from Post 1, favourite Bp Chimo settled for the two-hole as the parked out Tigers Mattjesty (Des Tackoor) moved to the lead and carved out stations of :27.3 and :57.2. From there, Keystone Raptor (Jack Moiseyev) swept up from fourth to claim the lead with Bp Chimo angling out past three-quarters in 1:26. The pair pulled away from the field heading into stretch and Bp Chimo edged past the leader for the one and a half length score.
Keystone Raptor stayed for second and Bruisers Brother (Trevor Henry) finished third.
Elizabeth Thompson of Branchton, Ont. and Anne O’Keefe of Ferryland, Nfld. purchased the Grinfromeartoear-Chimi Hanover colt at the Forest City Sale for $10,000. He has since earned three wins in nine tries for his connections banking $76,900.
The last $130,000 OSS Gold Final of the season for two-year-old pacing colts is set for next Friday at Western Fair with the OSS Super Final scheduled for Saturday, November 14 at Woodbine Racetrack.
Here is a look at the field for the $130,000 OSS Gold Final in order of post position with drivers listed:
1. Bruisers Brother – Trevor Henry
2. Adrenaline – Trevor Henry
3. Windsong Gorgeous – Anthony MacDonald
4. Stonebridge Tonic – Doug McNair
5. Future Million – Simon Allard
6. Bp Chimo – Phil Hudon
7. Grin For Money – Sylvain Filion
8. Keystone Raptor – Jack Moiseyec
AE1. Tiger Mattjesty – Des Tackoor
AE2. Code Word – Robert Shepherd
AE3. Sonic Seelster – David Wall
The Middlesex County Series also continued on Friday night with second leg divisions for trotting colts and geldings and pacing fillies and mares.
Eastoaklane kicked off the evening with a two length wire-to-wire score in the first of two $9,000 Middlesex Country Trotting Series divisions for the boys. The three-year-old son of Angus Hall-Armbro Sojourn, who was sent postward as the 4-1 third choice, stopped the clock in 2:04 for driver Doug McNair and trainer Pat Rouleau while Lindy For Life (Terry Kerr) recovered from an early miscue behind the gate to finish second and favourite All In Gass (Reg Gassien) rounded out the top three. Eastoaklane has won five of his 12 races with one second (in his opening leg division last week) in his debut season. The winner of $19,430 is owned by Lisa Heyden of Midhurst, Ont.
After favourite Maldeen (Robert Shepherd) made a break before the third quarter in the next division, second choice Once A Thief (Greg Dustin) jumped it off in the stretch after advancing first over from fifth. The pocket-sitting Ba Ba Kada and trainer/driver Tom Durand was left to fend off Who Gets The Money (Trevor Henry) for the half-length victory. The three-year-old Kadabra-Moral Victory colt posted a 9-1 upset in a life’s best 2:03.1. Phantom Piper (Dave Wall) finished over nine lengths back in third. Durand also shares ownership of Ba Ba Kada with June Durand of Puslinch and Terry Devos of Langton, Ont. After breaking his maiden in the first leg, the $32,000 Harrisburg Sale purchase has now sports two wins in 10 starts and earnings totalling $11,292.
In the first of four $9,000 divisions of the Middlesex Pacing Series for fillies and mares, favourite Mistreos and driver Anthony Haughan advanced to the lead from third at the half and paced away by four and a half lengths to score in 1:58.4. Mischievous Luck (Terry Kerr) and Veronicavermillion (Mike Whelan) finished second and third. Bruce Goit trains the homebred Astreos-Countryview Miss three-year-old, who was the runner-up in her division last week, for London’s Pat Ryan. The win was Mistreos’ third in nine starts this year lifting her bankroll to $26,778.
Doug McNair picked up the drive aboard 3-2 second choice Higher Standards in the next split and the team front-stepped their way to a 2:02 score by three-quarters of a length while Barefoot Contessa (Bruce Richardson) journeyed first over to finish second ahead of favourite Jodys Charm (Ryan Holliday). Stephen Doyle trains the Camluck-Pacific Rocket sophomore, who finished second in first round action. The winner of two races in 13 starts and $13,327 was purchased for $50,000 at the Harrisburg Sale by John Simmonds of King City, Ont.
Smashbox extended her win streak to four in her division for teamster Mike Sumner and trainer Jim Ainsworth with a dominating seven and a half length victory in 2:00. The three-year-old daughter of Mach Three-Sunone offered 15 cents on the dollar as the bettor’s second choice while Stayoutofmyaffair (Danny Johnson) came on for second over favourite Aberarder Emsfame (Terry Kerr). Larry Ainsworth of Petrolia, Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga, Ont. and Bill Boden of Vancouver, B.C. own the winning filly, who has won five of her seven starts earning $20,874.
Odds-on Stonedust Cammy, a three-year-old daughter of Modern Art-Serene Cam, carved out all the panels en route to a four length victory in a time of 2:00.3 with Mark Pezzarello in the bike. The Mistress (Doug McNair) and Angels First Cammi (Tom Smith) earned place and show honours. The Paul Mairs pupil, who finished third in her division of the series last Friday, has won six times in 11 outings this year good for $27,745 for owner Maple City Equestrian of Dresden, Ont.
The Middlesex County Series is for Ontario-sired performers, four years of age and younger, who were non-winners of $10,000 in lifetime earnings as of September 15, 2009.
The $50,000 finals of the series will take place next Saturday, November 7 at Western Fair.
To view Friday’s harness racing results, click here.