Ontario-sired sophomores found themselves in the spotlight Tuesday evening at Georgian Downs in a trio of Ontario Graduate Series Finals.
Trotting fillies were up first in their $57.200 tilt, and Magic Lindy used a late rally to register the win for driver James MacDonald and trainer Johnnie McKinnon, who also share ownership on the filly with Peter Porter of Port Dover, ON.
Collectively, the partners watched their ticket to victory learn enjoy a two-hole trip behind the battling tandem of Miss Majestic and Stormont Fried. Those two went toe-to-toe through first-half fractions of :27.2 and :56.4 before the parked-out Stormont Fried backed away. Miss Majestic was then forced to deal with Ivana Hanover, who swung off cover on the way to the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1. Miss Majestic turned back that foe, too, but she couldn’t out-step the tripped-out Magic Lindy to the finish. Magic Lindy used a :30.4 closing panel to prevail by a half-length margin over Miss Majestic, with the show dough going to the late-driving Tyrant Seelster.
The daughter of Kadabra-Giza improved her 2012 record to 3-3-1 from 21 starts with the victory, and she boosted her lifetime earnings to $62,430. The filly was purchased by her current connections for $4,500 from this year’s Summer Sizzler Mixed Sale.
It was Anthony MacDonald’s turn in the final for the colt and gelding pacers, as he guided Giddy Up Blackfly to a dominant victory in 1:53.1. The son of Whosurboy-Look Over Here shot to the lead and hammered out fractions of :27.2, :57 and 1:24.4 before using a :28.2 kicker to win by five lengths in 1:53.1. Sent off as the even-money favourite, the gelding defeated Sky Mcfly and Bandicoot.
Joey Shea trains the seven-time winner for owner Dave Shea of Campbellville, ON. It was the pacer’s third win of the season, and the $27,500 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $93,565.
Hallucination was a popular winner in the final for the colt and gelding trotters, and just like Magic Lindy – he has turned out to be a bargain purchase for his current connections.
Scooped up for $15,000 from last month’s McNair Mixed Sale, the son of Angus Hall-Bankers Jackpot won for the third time in as many tries since the acquisition. The gelding got away third for driver Sylvain Filion in Tuesday’s quest for the sweep of the series, but they didn’t sit for very long. Filion had the gelding on the lead shortly past the quarter pole, and once in command he rolled through fractions of :57 and 1:26.4 en route to the 1:56.3 score. Runner-up Count Speed was 1-3/4 lengths in arrears, with Noble Warrawee holding on for third prize after making a first-over bid.
Richard Moreau trains Hallucination for owners Sylvain Descheneaux of Sorel-Tracy, QC and Fred Handelaar of Heerenveen, NTH. After going 0-for-6 last season, the trotter has answered with a 4-6-3 record in 24 starts this year. The lion’s share of the purse helped his lifetime earnings swell to $81,675.
It turned out to be a very successful night for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Richard Moreau. The Quebec natives, who are sure to get plenty of consideration when it come to voting for this year’s O’Brien Award based on their accomplishments in 2012, made multiple trips to the winner’s circle on the 12-race card. Filion guided three Moreau Pupils to victory lane, and he tacked on another pair of catch-driving scores to bring his nightly win total to five.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Georgian Downs.