The top two and three-year-olds in the Ontario Sires Stakes program wrapped up their season on Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack while competing in the $2.4 million Super Finals
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Trotting sire Kadabra produced three Super Final winners in Prestidigitator, Miss Paris and China Pearls. Drivers Jody Jamieson (Warrawee Needy and Mister Herbie), Randy Waples (Waasmula and China Pearls) and Scott Zeron (Apogee Hanover and Miss Paris) eached took home two trophies while trainer Jeff Gillis (Apogee Hanover and Mister Herbie) also scored a double.
Trot Insider has provided recaps of the eight season-ending stake events below.
Divisional leader Warrawee Needy continued his dominance over the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings in the Ontario Sires Stakes program with a wire-to-wire open length romp in the first $300,000 Super Final of the evening.
Leaving from Post 2, Warrawee Needy and driver Jody Jamieson took control of the field, which was scratched down to five, and carved out fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:23.2. Macapelo (Scott Zeron) followed along in second while the rest of the field trailed double-digit lengths behind. Once Warrawee Needy turned for home, he opened up nearly 10 lengths on his nearest foe before crossing the wire in 1:50.3. Macapelo finished second while Hard To Mach (Doug McNair) was the best of the rest.
Warrawee Needy paid $2.10 to win as the overwhelming 1-9 favourite.
"I'd say he's probably the best horse I've ever driven," said Jamieson following the victory. "He's just been a thrill to drive. It's been great to be involved. You know, we watch San Pail go every night here and just the crowd he brings out and what he means to the industry, and I hope and pray that this horse [Warrawee Needy] can come back good next year and mean somewhat to that level what San Pail means to the industry because we are all part of it and we all love it.
"We had a lot of doubters in this colt," continued the resident of Moffat, Ont. "We got talking about him a little too much -- me included -- comparing him to great horses. He's a great horse in his own right and we'll just let him speak for himself from now on. And he's done that loud and clear. He's had a couple of mishaps on the smaller tracks, but on the big tracks he has been unbelievable."
Bred by Warrawee Farm of Rockwood, Ont., the son of E Dees Cam and Great Memories is owned by trainer Carl Jamieson of Princeton, Thomas Kyron of Toronto, Dr. Michael R. Wilson of Rockwood, and Floyd Marshall of Jarvis. The bay colt was a $20,000 yearling purchase at the Canadian Yearling Sale for the Ontario ownership group and has won nine races in 12 career starts this year while banking $535,000 -- most of which in the OSS program. While dominating the two-year-old colt pace division this year, Warrawee Needy earned three Gold trophies and set OSS records on half-mile, five-eighths and seven-eighths racetracks.
With divisional leader and 4-5 favourite The Game Plan self-destructing into the final turn, the door was left wide open for second choice Prestidigitator to steal the glory in the $300,000 OSS Super Final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Il Mago (Trevor Ritchie) worked his way to the lead ahead of eventual breaker Cradabra (Luc Ouellette) during a :28-second opening quarter. Meanwhile, the parked out Post 7 starter Prestidigitator and driver Sylvain Filion trotted into the pocket with The Game Plan (Jack Moiseyev) watching from third.
Prestidigitator made his move down the backstretch and swept to command. As they field passed the half in :58, Majestic Image (Mario Baillargeon) began to advance on the outside from fifth flushing The Game Plan first up.
However, The Game Plan made a costly break in stride entering the final turn and Majestic Image jumped it off past the 1:27.3 three-quarters mark.
With open road ahead, Prestidigitator extended his lead to eight and a quarter lengths down the stretch and stopped the clock in a career-best 1:56.3. Good Sound Advice (Randy Waples) finished second while Heres The Magic (Scott Zeron) closed well for third.
Prestidigitator paid $5.20 to win.
"All year he some issues, but tonight he had his game face on; he was comfortable and he was relaxed and he proved that he is one of the best two-year-olds right now," said Filion of the colt who won two Gold eliminations but made breaks in both of the finals. "I'm not surprised at all. He always showed a lot of talent, but it was just a matter of bringing it all together and I'm just anxious to see him go next year."
The Kadabra-Shesa Priority colt was bred by Mary Smith and Richard Uhle of Michigan and purchased for $120,000 at the Harrisburg Sale. Prestidigitator now sports a record reading 4-2-1 in 11 starts for trainer R. Dustin Jones and owner Ecurie Synergie of Montreal, Que. The victory pushed his lifetime earnings to $320,672.
Apogee Hanover wore down her fellow divisional point leader Class Of O Nine to earn the lion's share of the $300,000 purse in the Super Final for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Class Of O Nine (Randy Waples) left alertly from the outside post position in the field of eight and established the lead ahead of inside starters Classy Lane Rose (Mario Baillargeon) and 3-5 favourite Apogee Hanover, with Scott Zeron in the bike.
Legal Entity (Luc Ouellette) was on the move early though, advancing first up from fourth into the first turn and past the :28.1 opening quarter. That filly worked her way to the top before the :56.3 half, but Class Of O Nine quickly retook the lead with Apogee Hanover angling off the pylons.
Class Of O Nine continued to lead the ladies past three-quarters in 1:23.4 while Apogee Hanover ducked into the pocket around the final turn before moving back out and launching her final attack. She put away Class Of O Nine in the stretch and surged home to score the 1:52.2 triumph by fourlengths. Mindsweeper (Jody Jamieson) came on for second over Classy Lane Rose.
Apogee Hanover paid $3.30 to win.
"I didn't think the race would unfold anything like that," said Zeron. "The whole way down the backside I was looking to move her to the front and it ended up not being able to happen. I had to go a different trip than I wanted, but it worked out perfect."
The Jeremes Jet-Aurora Seelster filly was bred by Pennsylvania's Hanover Shoe Farms and purchased for $27,000 at the Harrisburg Sale by Roger Hammer of Bedford, Pennsylvania. The two-time Gold champion, who was trained by Erv Miller for most of her 12-race season, scored her fifth win of the year while under the care of trainer Jeff Gillis. The victory pushed her lifetime earnings to $347,200.
"We really looked after her at the beginning of the year and took her off the pace a bunch of times," added Zeron. "Her main disadvantage was she would always kind of brush her knee a little bit, enough to make breaks. So she should have a lot more money on her card than she does because she's a really good horse. I'm looking forward to next year and I just have to say thanks to Erv Miller and everybody who took care of this horse. It's been a great year."
Mister Herbie put forth a dazzling 1:52 stakes, track and Canadian record performance in the $300,000 Super Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The victory also provided Jamieson and Gillis with their second stakes trophy on the card.
Imperial Count (Scott Zeron) fired to the opening quarter in :26.4 while Mister Herbie settled back into fourth ahead of divisional leader and 3-5 favourite Daylon Magician (Jack Moiseyev).
As the field entered the backstretch, Sim Brown (Randy Waples) launched his attack from third, but just as he was in the process of clearing the lead at the :56 half-mile mark he broke stride. Meanwhile, Jamieson had moved Mister Herbie underway and the 3-1 second choice blasted to the top past the midway point.
Mister Herbie built up a three length lead by the three-quarters mark in 1:24 with Daylon Magician moving first up but unable to get anywhere near the front-runner, who opened up eight and a half lengths on his foes in the stretch. Mister Herbie hit the wire in a career-best, record-setting 1:52 flat. Imperial Count finished second over Daylon Magician.
The time of the mile lowered the track and Canadian record by one-fifth of a second, which was set in 2005 by Great George Two. It also eclipsed Arch Madness' 1:53.2 stakes record.
Mister Herbie paid $8.90 to win.
The son of Here Comes Herbie and Independent Lassie, bred by Warrawee Farm, was purchased at the beginning of October by Gillis, Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont., and Gerland Stay of Buffalo, New York. The new ownership group lucked out with the gelding making it into the Super Final despite going winless in six OSS starts.
"He's always showed that he was a fast trotter, even before we ever got him. He was just a little late getting it together," said Nichol. "Carl Jamieson was running him through the sale and Jeff called him before the sale and we bought him before he went through the sale. It worked out good. At the time, he didn't qualify for the Super Final -- he was in 11th place. Then there was a horse that didn't make it or something so we got lucky and got in there. He's a super horse, he looks like the real deal."
The win was Mister Herbie's sixth of the season in 17 starts and pushed his 2011 bankroll to $256,983.
Miss Paris won a heated battle with Counter Pointe to capture the $300,000 Super Final for two-year-old trotting fillies and carry Zeron back to victory lane.
With divisional heavyweight Circles scratched from the 10-horse field, Racing Dreams drew in off the Also Eligible list. As the starting gate closed, multiple fillies made breaks and a battle between the next two top point earners ensued.
Counter Pointe (Wayne Henry) established the lead from Post 4 while 1-9 favourite Miss Paris settled into fourth after a Post 5 start. Counter Pointe took the field past opening fractions of :29.1 and :58.3 before being confronted by Miss Paris. The top two fillies battle head-to-head past three-quarters in 1:26.3 and into the stretch.
Miss Paris began to edge ahead at the top of the stretch. Meanwhile, Cool Creak Breeze (Mario Baillargeon), who sat third at the rail throughout the mile, began to fire in the stretch but made a costly break taking herself out of contention. Miss Paris pulled away from Counter Pointe to score in 1:57.2. Pocket-sitter Frisky Strike (Paul MacDonell) finished one and three-quarter lengths behind the winner in second while Counter Pointe was forced to settle for third, four lengths back.
Miss Paris paid $2.10 to win.
The daughter of Kadabra and Pizza Dolce was a $210,000 Lexington Selected Sale purchase for owners Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Ont., and Florida residents Herb Liverman and David McDuffee. Miss Paris, four-for-four in OSS action (a sweep of two Gold Series events), has won half of her 14 career starts while banking $486,656 while under the card of trainer Richard 'Nifty' Norman.
She was bred by Steve Stewart of Paris, Kentucky, John Schmucker of Grabill, Indiana, and Donald Robinson of Cardington, Ohio.
Waasmula pulled off a 15-1 shocker in the three-year-old pacing filly Super Final as she nipped divisional leader and heavy 1-9 favourite Monkey On My Wheel at the wire for her first win against OSS company.
With the inside post advantage, Breeders Crown champion Monkey On My Wheel (Jody Jamieson) forced Post 2 starter Modern Connection (Scott Zeron) to tuck into the pocket while Waasmula and driver Randy Waples settled into third from Post 3.
Monkey On My Wheel, looking to put an exclamation point on her standout sophomore campaign, led the field through fractions of :27.2, :57 and 1:24.3 before spinning into the stretch with a two length lead.
Closing up the rail, Modern Connection looked like she might be the one to snag the glory, but Waasmula was full of late pace and came charging up on the outside to prevail in a career-best 1:51.2 (:26-second final frame) in the final strides over Monkey On My Wheel. Modern Connection finished one length back in third.
Waasmula paid $33.10 for the upset win.
"It's great. We finally got a shot, we finally got towed up into it and she got to show what she can do," said trainer Bruce Goit amidst the winner's circle celebrations. "I thought she was competitive [in the OSS program]. If she wasn't she wouldn't be here."
Waasmula is owned by Goit's longtime friend Brent Vincent, who also bred the Million Dollar Cam-Waasmowin filly with fellow Allenford, Ont. resident Thomas Vincent. Although she was winless in six OSS starts, Waasmula picked up cheques in all of those outings. She now sports a record reading 6-1-3 in 14 lifetime starts with earnings soaring to $248,450.
Delivering on her pari-mutuel promise, even-money favourite China Pearls cruised to victory in the $300,000 Super Final for three-year-old trotting fillies and provided Waples back-to-back stakes wins.
Firing off the gate from Post 7, Oh Sweet Baby (Mario Baillargeon) established the early lead during a :27.1 opening quarter, but her lead was short-lived as China Pearls brushed to command from third down the backside.
China Pearls, who ranked fifth in her divisional point standings led by Peach Martini, reached the half in :56.4 and proceeded to three-quarters in 1:25.3. She spun into the stretch with Oh Sweet Baby on her back and the rest of the field trailing multiple lengths behind.
China Pearls faced no serious challengers in the stretch as she cruised to victory in 1:54.2 while shaving one-fifth of a second off her lifetime mark. Oh Sweet Baby finished over two lengths behind in second and Nordic De Vie (Trevor Ritchie) came in third, nearly eight lengths back.
China Pearls paid $4 to win.
"She's one of the best horses I've ever had," said trainer Carmen Hie in the winner's circle. "I've had some nice ones, but she's a little special."
Hie trains the daughter of Kadabra and Pure Sable, who was bred by Tri Star Farms Ltd. of Brantford, Ont., for Ontario owners Blake Anthony of Millgrove, J. Peter Kloepfer of Harley, Ted Murrell of Sharon and his Carman Hie Stable of Rockwood. Unraced as a two-year-old due to sickness, she has put together a record reading 7-1-6 in 18 seasonal starts while banking nearly $500,000. Among her wins are an OSS Gold Final, the SBOA Stakes and the Canadian Breeders Championship.
"I'm really happy for her because in April she made her first start and to keep going and develop and to win the Super Final, it's fantastic," said Hie. "I'm very happy for her and I'm happy for my partners too."
Camaes Fellow collared pacesetter Mystician in deep stretch en route to capturing the last $300,000 Super Final of the night for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Cam B Zipper (Sylvain Filion) was first to fire from Post 6 with Twin B Legend (Paul MacDonell) and 4-5 favourite Mystician (Jody Jamieson) rolling up alongside. Twin B Legend cleared to command during the :26-second opening quarter leaving Mystician parked out, but Mystician took over the lead as they moved into the backstretch and rolled to the half in :54.4.
Meanwhile, Camaes Fellow and catch-driver Doug McNair watched the action from fourth and launched a first over attack at the midway point. The 3-1 second choice applied pressure to the leader as they neared the three-quarters mark in 1:22.4. He continued to press the pace as they turned in front of the grandstand and collared Mystician in deep stretch. Camaes Fellow, who ranked fourth in the divisional standings led by Prodigal Seelster, hit the wire in a career-best 1:50.1 with Twin B Legend closing well for second, one and a half lengths behind. Mystician finished nearly five lengths behind in third.
Camaes Fellow paid $8.20 to win.
"Jody got stung pretty hard leaving and there was a little hole there so I dropped down into the hole," said McNair, explaining the winning trip. "He's a great big horse so he's more of a grinder than a sprinter. I didn't know how he'd like it [the first over trip]. When I first moved him he was a little lazy, not really used to it, but once he got around the last turn he just buckled down and he raced huge.
"It's an unbelievable feeling now to be standing here in the winner's circle," added McNair, who recalled watching the OSS Super Finals as a child. "It's a great feeling and I kind of had a rough year so this made up for it."
Camaes Fellow, winner of the last Gold Series event of the season, was purchased by Frank Bellino of Bronxville, New York in early August of this year and moved into trainer Tony O'Sullivan's stable. He has put together a record reading 5-6-4 in 20 seasonal starts while banking $390,558.
The son of Mach Three and Camae was bred by Larry Murrell of Toronto, the McMaster Stables Inc. of Guelph, Ont., and Luc Ouellette of Campbellville, Ont.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.