Longshot Stonebridge Tonic lowered Western Fair Raceway’s track record for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings with his 1:52.4 triumph in the single $40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold elimination held during Saturday’s action-packed card in London, Ont.
Driven by Doug McNair, Stonebridge Tonic fired off the gate from the outside Post 7 clearing the lead before the first turn and opening up multiple lengths en route to the first quarter in :27.1.
Down the backstretch, Big Bay Point (Mario Baillargeon) moved underway from third and reeled in the early leader. He took command before the half in :55.2 and proceeded to three-quarters in 1:23.2.
As the field hit the top of the lane, Stonebridge Tonic pulled the pocket and out-sprinted Big Bay Point for the 1:52.4 victory. The time of the mile lowered Stormaway and Wholly Louy’s former record by two-fifths of a second. Big Bay Point finished just a neck behind in second and Dalhousie Dave (Randy Waples) finished two and three-quarter lengths behind in third.
Stonebridge Tonic paid $38.10 for the 18-1 upset. Trainer Gregg McNair shares ownership of the Camluck-Glacier Express colt with the Artana Stables of St. Thomas, Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke and breeder Angie Stiller of Arva, Ont. The bay colt has put together a sophomore record reading 3-2-2 in 19 starts for his connections while banking $178,845. Lifetime, the he boasts $327,864 in earnings.
With Red Bugler scratched from the elimination field, all eight starters advance to next Saturday’s $130,000 Gold Final – the last Gold Final of the season for the glamour boys before the Super Final on Nov. 13 at Woodbine Racetrack.
Here is a look at the field for next week's final in post position order:
1. Dalhousie Dave
2. Keystone Raptor
3. Windsong Gorgeous
4. Big Bay Point
5. Stonebridge Tonic
6. Mach Dreamer
7. Future Million
8. Code Word
The Middlesex County Trotting Series for fillies and mares continued on Saturday night at Western Fair with Yorke Puddin, Twin B Miss D and Lightnin Laura Mae capturing their respective $7,500 divisions. The series is for four-year-old and younger Ontario sired pacers and trotters that are non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of midnight Sept. 1, 2010.
Driven by Thomas Hamm, Yorke Puddin advanced first up and wore down pacesetter Love My Vett (Doug McNair) to repeat in the series. The three-year-old daughter of Duke Of York-Sherhanys Beauty won by a length in 2:02 with Love My Vett second and first leg winner Tzipi (Trevor Henry) third off a pocket trip. Yorke Puddin is trained by William Hamm and owned by 794495 Ont Ltd Ja Mar Stables of St. Thomas, Ont.
Twin B Miss D and driver Trevor Henry inherited the lead from the pocket past the half-mile mark when pacesetter Stolen Goods (Dave Wall) made a costly break. The three-year-old daughter of Mr Lavec-Miss D then held off first leg winner Ramona K (Doug McNair) by a half-length for the 2:04.4 victory. Mazatlan (Ross Battin) finished two lengths back in third. The Pam Forgie trainee is owned by David Wilkinson of Goderich, Ont.
Lightnin Laura Mae rallied three-wide past three-quarters and sprinted home for the maiden-breaking score in 2:04 for driver Bob McClure and trainer Rebecca Geisel. Emerald Secret (Bruce Richardson) finished over a length behind in second and Striking Style (Mike Whelan) was third. Ron Wright of Owen Sound, Ont. owns and bred the winning Dr Ronerail-Hurricane Lucy filly.
The $40,000 (added) finals of the Middlesex County Series are also slated for next Saturday, Nov. 6 at Western Fair.
Button Up fought off first over challenger Formal Affair (Garry MacDonald) to win the $10,000 Preferred 2 Pace in 1:55.4 for driver Mike Horner, trainer Mark Horner and the Sure Gain Stable of Mitchell, Ont. The seven-year-old son of Northern Luck-Better Butter pulled off a 14-1 upset with the one and three-quarter length victory over favourite Mach Two Point Six (Greg Dustin). Philana Chalice (Paul MacDonell) was third.
For a recap of tonight's main event, the $167,000 Forest City Pace, click here.
To view Saturday's results, click here.