Lexis Noah found himself under the gun on Monday evening to rack up some last minute points for this year’s O.S.S. Super Final, and the gelding proved he clearly works well under pressure
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Lexis Noah used his patented closing kick to perfection to capture the $130,000 O.S.S. Gold Series Final at Mohawk Racetrack, and he had to haul down the leader in this year’s standings, Text Me, in order to get the victory.
Text Me (Randy Waples) was quick off the wings of the gate, but not the quickest. That honour went to longshot Windsong Geant (Mark MacDonald) who insisted on making the lead. Lexis Noah in the meantime got away eighth for driver Jack Moiseyev.
Windsong Geant hung up a :27.1 opening panel before being pulled on and eventually overtaken by Text Me. Once in command, Text Me took the field through middle splits of :56.1 and 1:25.3. He came under heavy pressure halfway down the lane when Lexis Noah started to trot up a storm when he was called on for top speed by Moiseyev. A :29.1 final frame was just enough for Lexis Noah to prevail by a head over Text Me in 1:55.3. Zorgwijk Kingpin (Rick Zeron) turned in one his best efforts of the season to finish third.
“Going past the quarter Trevor was out there and I got out on his back and he took me where I needed to go,” said driver Jack Moiseyev. “I thought at the head of the stretch I had a lot of trot left. The horse on the front [Text Me] is a real good horse, but with a good trip like that Dunstan [owner/trainer Norm Dunstan] said he’d be a lot better tonight and he was.
“I think he’s smartening up pretty good,” added Moiseyev when asked about the trotter’s improving form. “He follows cover real good and he always gives you a good kick when he’s right. That’s probably one of the better ones he beat there for the Super Final, so he’ll be right there I believe.”
The victory was the sixth of the season in 18 starts for the homebred son of Malabar Maple-Conway Connie, who was unraced as a rookie. Despite being inactive last season, the gelding has banked in excess of $133,000 for owner/breeder/trainer Norm Dunstan of Caledon Village, ON.
Kawartha Downs will host the final Gold Series event of the season for the three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Eliminations, if necessary, are scheduled for October 26 and then the final on November 2. The top ten point earners in the program will then have the chance to race in the $300,000 O.S.S. Super Final at Woodbine Racetrack on November 13.
To view Monday’s results, click here.