Trainer Gregg McNair scored a one-two punch in the Ontario Sired Autumn Series final for sophomore colts and geldings tonight at Woodbine Racetrack, as his charges Marquis Player and Dougs Fame finished first and second, a head apart, in a scrimmage-style finish.
A full field of 10 sophomore pacing colts went postward in the $51,300 final, with 13-1 shot, Marquis Player, and Sylvain Filion showing the way to a :26.3 quarter pole before being overtaken by elim winners, Dougs Fame (Mike Saftic) and Dinner Guest (Jack Moiseyev).
Filion tucked the Astreos gelding comfortably into third and rode through fractions of :55.4 and 1:22.2. In the stretch, favourite Winter Blues (Randy Waples) poked his head into the fray, but Dougs Fame and Dinner Guest hung on, neck and neck, in front. A final surge from Marquis Player threaded the needle between horses to win in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.1.
Dougs Fame was second by a head, and Winter Blues earned third, a neck further back.
Marquis Player, a homebred owned by Paul Ministrelli of Brighton, Michigan, was unraced as a two-year-old but now has five victories in 17 starts on his scorecard. The win pushed his earnings over the $70,000 mark.
In the $20,000 consolation, Tom Durand's Ratings Hanover rallied from last to first in the stretch to win by a head in 1:55.1.
Surfin Bali (Phil Hudon) finished second and Solano (Rick Zeron) was third.
The win was number six for the son of Mach Three, who sports a bankroll of $45,986.
(With files from WEG)