The Ford Summit Series wrapped up on Saturday evening after five weeks of preliminary legs with trotting mare Brontewine and pacer Schooner winning their respective Gold finals at Georgian Downs.
The series was for trotters and pacers racing for a claiming price of $6,000 (with allowances).
Brontewine pulled off a 14-1 upset in the $35,133 Gold trotting final with a 2:00 wire-to-wire romp for driver Travis Henry and trainer Paul Henry. Advancing to the Gold event off of three runner-up performances in the preliminary rounds, the eight-year-old Balanced Image mare prevailed by one and a half lengths over pocket-sitter Rageur Normand (Paul MacKenzie) and Royal King (Scott Coulter). She returned $31.20 to her backers.
Brontewine notched her eighth win of the season and pushed his 2012 bankroll to nearly $50,000 for owners Lois Allison of Hamilton, Ont. and Wayne Allison of Lynden, Ont.
Wild Wind romped to a 10-3/4 length victory in the $25,133 Silver trotting final for driver Simon Allard and his brother, trainer-owner Rene Allard. The Sjs Caviar eight-year-old, who was claimed from the fourth leg for $6,000 by Rene, scored a 2:00.3 victory with Bonnie Ronnie (Jason Brewer) and Longbeach Tuffy (Scott Coulter) rounding out the top three finishers. The favourite paid $3.30 to win.
A B Watterson Lass, also driven by Simon Allard, got away mid-pack and swept three-wide near the third quarter mark to come on for the 2:01.3 victory in the $15,133 Bronze trot. The eight-year-old Family Firm mare held off Frenchfrysncheese (Paul MacKenzie) by a neck to notch her first win of the season while Victorys Peanut (Travis Henry) finished two lengths back in third. Cory Fuller trains the winner for owner-breeder Alex McNabb of Minesing, Ont. She paid $15.60 to win.
Schooner remained undefeated in series action as he romped to an eight length victory in the $40,200 Gold final for pacers. Driven by J.R. Plante for trainer Patrick Shepherd, the four-year-old son of American Ideal stopped the clock in 1:54.4 with Bob Watts (Paul MacKenzie) coming on for second over pocket-sitter Hidden Hall (Dan Clements). Schooner, who was victorious in all four preliminary legs that he competed in, paid $4.70 to win as the second choice.
Claimed for $7,500 from last week's leg, Schooner turned a nice profit for owner Jonah Moase of Cornwall, P.E.I. The victory was his 12th this year in 28 starts and lifted his seasonal earnings over $50,000.
Driven by Travis Henry, the Carmen Auciello-trained Xcell Irish Spirit converted off a pocket trip to win the $30,200 Silver pacing final by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:56.4. Rhapsodys Star (J.R. Plante) came on for second while pacesetter Cracker Stoney (Jonathan Drury), the winner's stablemate, settled for third. The six-year-old Yankee Cam gelding was claimed for $6,000 last week after winning two earlier series legs by Stephen Klunowski of North York, Ont.
Auciello also won the $20,200 Bronze final for pacers with Modern Day Cam, who advanced first over and edged past pacesetter Sweater Vest (Jason Brewer) at the wire in 1:57.1, returning $15.20 to his backers. The four-year-old Modern Art son, who was driven by Jonathan Drury, was claimed in round four of the series for $7,500 by Robert Burgess of Cedar Valley, Ont. Pocket-sitter Charmbo Willie (Dan Clements) finished three-quarters of a length behind in third.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Georgian Downs - Saturday Results.