Former Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final champion Bigtime Ball made a winner's circle appearance during Saturday night's 2012 OSS championship card at Woodbine Racetrack for driver Paul MacDonell and trainer Gord Irwin
The $1.5 million earner, who was a 2007 Super Final winner during his sophomore year, prevailed in the $38,000 Preferred Pace featured on the undercard.
Firing across the track from the outside post nine, Bigtime Ball and MacDonell took control of the field and rolled past fractions of :26, :55, and 1:22.4 before holding off the late-closers in a blanket finish for the 1:50.1 score over a track downgraded to sloppy. Favourite Up The Credit rallied off Mach Dreamer's cover with Watermelonwine charging home from the backfield. The top four were separated by just a neck at the wire.
The 3-1 second choice paid $8.10 to win.
Owned by Irwin Stables Inc. of Cobourg, Ont., the eight-year-old Presidential Ball gelding notched his second win of the season and 38th lifetime.
Five-year-old Apaches Fame gelding Twin B Warrior, a 2009 Grassroots Championship winner at two and 2010 Super Final runner-up at three, also won his Saturday night conditioning assignment by a neck in 1:50.4, pushing his earnings over the $700,000 mark for driver Jody Jamieson, trainer Jeff Gillis and Burlington, Ont. owner Mac Nichol.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.