Two-year-old colts and geldings battled one another – and a fierce wind from the west – in Thursday’s Autumn Series finals at Woodbine Racetrack.
Gonna Fly, who was ninth at the quarter pole, rallied for a neck decision in the $30,000 Autumn Series final for the trotters.
Paul MacDonell was in no hurry with the youngster, but that wasn’t the case for Ulysses Bi. That rookie rocketed to the lead from Post 8 and threw down fractions of :28.2 and :58 before coming under pressure from the odds-on favourite, Matza Man. That foe showed a short lead while racing parked at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.3, but he couldn’t seal the deal. Gonna Fly, who got into the flow going to the half, kicked off cover and used a :30-second closing panel to post the narrow win over Matza Man. JLS Bad Moon Risin was third.
Bob McIntosh trains the homebred son of Kadabra-Glidin On Home for his Robert McIntosh Stables Inc of Windsor and Earl Hill Jr of Ohsweken, ON. The win improved the colt’s record to 3-2-1 from 14 starts and the lion’s share of the purse bumped his earnings to $43,290.
Continual Hanover was an overwhelming favourite in the $31,400 Autumn Series final for pacers, and he didn’t disappoint an army of backers that hopped on his bandwagon.
Jody Jamieson got away sixth with the colt while the undefeated Big Bang Boom powered to the front and sliced out splits of :26.2, :55 and 1:23.1. Continual Hanover was on the move going to the half, and after making a threw-wide move around the final turn he proceeded to use a :29.3 kicker to win by four lengths over B Fast Eddie in 1:53.2. Print Media took home the show dough.
The son of Bettors Delight-Current Hanover finished his freshman season with a 5-3-0 record from 12 trips. Trainer Jack Darling, whose Jack Darling Stables Ltd of Cambridge, ON owns the youngster, watched the colt bump his earnings to $108,400 with the triumph.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.