The bar was set high last week in elimination action as Oh Sweet Baby established a new track record at Windsor Raceway for three-year-old trotting fillies
. But Magic Wheel bested that mark on Sunday night in the $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final with a flashy front end performance.
The field of nine was reduced to seven with divisional leader Peach Martini and Pretty Crafty scratched. And then Marys Out Cruisin (Brett Miller) jumped if off at the rail as the gate swung open. Leaving from Post 4, Magic Wheel and trainer-driver Joe Hudon Jr. took control of the rest of the filly trotters and blazed through an opening quarter of :26.4 with Oh Sweet Baby (Mario Baillargeon) settling in for a pocket ride.
Following a :57 half, defending Gold champion and fan favourite China Pearls (Randy Waples) advanced first over from third and applied pressure to three-quarters in 1:26.
Magic Wheel began to edge away as they entered the stretch, but China Pearls refused to give up and began to close in on the leader again with Oh Sweet Baby skimming the pylons. However, Magic Wheel persevered and hit the wire in 1:55.2, shaving one-fifth of a second off the track record. China Pearls finished a neck back in second and Oh Sweet Baby was three-quarters of a length back in third on the inside.
Magic Wheel paid $11.10 to win as the 9-2 third choice. The daughter of Kadabra-Ws Balanced Wheel earned her fourth win of the campaign. She has picked up cheques in all 14 of her 2011 starts to bank $235,924 for owners Karen Hudon of Acton, Ont. and (breeder) Margaret Payne of St. Augustine, Florida.
For results from Sunday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Windsor Raceway.