Duly Resolved capped off his Ontario Sires Stakes season in style on Tuesday night (Oct. 4) by establishing a new trotting track record at The Raceway at the Western Fair District in one of two Gold divisions for three-year-old colts and geldings.
The son of Resolve was flawless start to finish, trotting a mile in 1:55.4 to earn the John Bax trainee the winner’s share of the $102,200 purse.
“It’s an extra feather in his cap,” said assistant trainer Matt Bax. “He’s such a nice horse and to have his name written down as the track record for all the owners, that’s pretty special.”
Seven sophomore trotters were behind the gate in race three and Duly Resolved and Paul MacDonell wasted no time getting ahead of six of them, cutting the first quarter mile in :28 to lead by a length over pocket-sitter Star Power Hanover and Samuel Filion.
Jody Jamieson moved 2-1 second choice Red Overbach first up through the second panel, but was unable to clear Duly Resolved, who continued to lead through middle sections of :58.2 and 1:26.4.
Through three-quarters, Duly Resolved led by a length over a parked out Red Overbach and when Star Power Hanover made a break around the final turn, MacDonell and Duly Resolved were unchallenged the rest of the way, trotting home in :29 to best the existing trotting track record of 1:56 by one-fifth of a second.
“He’s always trained down on a half-mile track, so we knew that he was going to be good,” said Bax. “Paul said tonight that the faster he was around the turns, the more he leaned in, and he could fly around there. When you can fly around the turns on half-mile racing, you’re pretty set.”
Duly Resolved was a standout two-year-old, winning three times at the Gold level and finishing runner-up in the William Wellwood, Mohawk Million and OSS Super Final to earn $631,659 for his owners Bax Stable, David Hudson (Dallas, Texas), Don Allensen (Wyoming, Ont.) and Gaelic Stable (Sharon, Ont.).
He won the third start of his three-year-old campaign in May against OSS Gold company at Woodbine Mohawk Park but failed to finish in the top three through July and August against OSS, open stakes or overnight competition.
The tide started to shift with a promising second in the Simcoe on Sept. 3.
“We’ve been battling allergies all summer and it doesn’t seem to matter what kind of allergy medication you give him, just couldn’t win that battle,” said Bax. “But over the last month there, I saw this huge shift in him and he’s back to his old self, the way he was last year, so we’re really rounding into form at the right time.”
The $225,000 Super Final is Oct. 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where Duly Resolved will be looking to avenge his runner-up finish last season.
“I think his chances are pretty good and just as good as anyone else’s,” said Bax.
Duly Resolved paid $4.50 for the win.
The second $102,200 Gold division was won by 25-1 longshot Promise For Life with Bruce Richardson driving for trainer Rene Dion.
The race began with odds-on favourite Safe Conduct and Chris Christoforou surging to the lead from post two, but Jody Jamieson was intent on challenging with 9-5 second choice Unevergonnagethis and the pair dueled on the lead through a blazing :27.2 first quarter.
Promise For Life was well back in seventh and parked on the outside through panels of :56.3 and 1:26.1. Royalty Beer went first up to challenge the leaders and was abreast of them entering the stretch.
But Promise For Life and Richardson continued their charge that began before three-quarters and flew four-wide down the lane to win in 1:56.3.
The Royalty For Life colt is owned by R A W Equine Inc. of Burlington, Ont. and S&r Racing Stable Inc. of Acton, Ont.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(With files from OSS)