The fifth and final preliminary leg of the Ford Summit Series for pacers was contested Monday at Georgian Downs, and now all that’s left to do is dole out the big cash in Saturday’s rich finals.
The event, which will see pacers and trotters battle in Gold ($40,200), Silver ($30,200) and Bronze ($20,200) championships, featured nine divisions in Monday’s closing leg.
Spacehill stepped to his fourth consecutive victory for trainer Rene Allard, who watched the six-year-old son of Space Shuttle front-step to a 1:54.2 score for driver Simon Allard. The 23-time winner was claimed from Monday’s event by partners Laura Winacott of Peterborough and Barry McClennan of Cavan, ON.
Grinfrom C To C went to the front and didn’t look back in his $5,600 assignment, and in doing so he finished 2-for-4 in the preliminary legs. Brad Rae guided the Tommy Riley-trained gelding to the 1:55 decision. Amanda Riley of Roseneath, ON owns the six-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear.
Cracker Stoney debuted on Lasix in the third division, and the Carmen Auciello trainee responded with a gate-to-wire triumph in 1:54.4. Jonathan Drury mapped out the winning trip for the 25-time winner, who put together a 2-0-1 record from three tries in the series. The career winner in excess of $174,000 is owned by Bill Dawson and Rocco Auciello of Stouffville, ON.
Scott Coulter guided Bordeauxs Best to a front-end win in his division in a time of 1:55, and in doing so the pacer improved to 2-1-0 from three tries in the preliminary legs of the series. The Rick Zeron pupil, who won for the sixth time this year and for the 23rd time in his career, was claimed for $6,000 from Monday’s tilt by Denarben Stables of Thornhill and Rocco Auciello of Stouffville, ON.
Schooner was perfect in all four of his preliminary leg assignments, including Monday’s 1:53.1 decision in his debut for trainer Rene Allard. The four-year-old son of American Ideal chopped out speedy splits for driver Simon Allard, who drew clear to win by 9-3/4 lengths with the gelding. The 21-time winner was claimed from the race by Jonah Moase of Cornwall, PE.
Docs Zhivago erupted for a 14-1 upset for the tandem of driver Jason Brewer and trainer Jeff Brewer. The eight-year-old son of Cams Eclipse, who was 0-for-4 in the earlier legs of the series, survived a parked-out trip to win his assignment in 1:56.3. The 15-time winner has now banked close to $87,000 for owner Lynda Brewer of Morrow, OH.
Bob Watts picked up his third win in the series thanks to Monday’s 1:55.4 score in front-stepping fashion for driver Tyler Moore and trainer Rene Allard. The six-year-old son of Real Desire, who held on for the half-length tally, was claimed from the race by Brittany Robertson of Chelmsford, ON. The 30-time winner went over $230,000 in lifetime earnings with the win.
Jac Spade nabbed shares in the first four legs of the series, but he got all the marbles in his fifth-leg assignment for trainer Cal Campbell. Bob McClure hustled the five-year-old son of Aces N Sevens to the lead shortly past the quarter pole, and once they cleared to the lead it was game over for the others. Sent off at odds of 9-1, the 11-time winner improved this year’s record to 6-for-36 with the win. Nancy Campbell of Milton, ON holds the papers on the career winner of $82,664.
Bryndans Toy doubled up in the preliminary round by taking the final division in 1:55.2 for trainer Ellie Mayhew. The five-year-old son of Powerful Toy did most of the road work en route to the impressive tally. The 15-time winner will look to add to his $64,072 bankroll next time out for his new connections after being claimed from Monday’s outing.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Georgian Downs.