The Platinum Guy held off a looming Freeneasy Hanover to score a narrow victory in The Count B Final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack
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The Platinum Guy and catch-driver Simon Allard left swiftly from Post 7 and took control of the field with 30-1 Freeneasy Hanover (Paul MacDonell) on the move from the pocket before the first turn.
The Mach Three-Proxahantis gelding reached the opening quarter in :27.3 before favourite Dapper Denzil (Jody Jamieson) shot three-wide from fourth and pulled ahead past the :56.1 half-mile maker.
Dapper Denzil proceeded to three-quarters in 1:23.2 but could not hold off The Platinum Guy, who fought back in the stretch to score in 1:53.2. A persistent Freeneasy Hanover finished right there in second with Machal Jackson (Luc Ouellette) coming in third over Dapper Denzil.
“I was really impressed with how quickly he got off the gate,” Allard told WEG's Media Department following the win. “When I let Jody clear, my horse was hot and didn’t want to stay in the hole but when I asked him down the stretch he responded very well.
“I watched his [The Platinum Guy's] race replay from a week ago and I saw that he didn’t get the best of trips. I wanted to put him in the race early because I thought I had a really good shot at winning. I was only concerned about a few horses beating me.”
The Platinum Guy paid $32.50 for the 15-1 upset. Marty Fine trains and co-owns the winner of two races in three starts this year, who picked up a cheque in the Snowshoe Final last time out on Jan. 14. The victory pushed his seasonal earnings to $43,000 for Fine and partners Dan Clements, breeder Gary McCready and Norm Clements, all of Uxbridge, Ont. The Platinum Guy has won one-third of his 15 starts to earn $87,335 lifetime.
Earlier on the card, Ardor Locke rallied off second over cover to capture this week's edition of the $38,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace for driver Randy Waples and trainer Archibald Peters, who owns and bred the daughter of Million Dollar Cam-Ardor Key with Dorothy Peters.
Post 10 starter Run On Luck crossed over to take the lead with favourite Four Starz Horndog (Sylvain Filion) and Warrawee Koine (Jody Jamieson) coming into close quarters in behind as the field rounded the first turn. Four Starz Horndog, the defending Open champion, moved up to take control past the :26.4 first quarter with Warrawee Koine three-wide and eventually clearing in front.
Warrawee Koine carved out middle splits of :56 and 1:24.3 while Ardor Locke, who sat fifth through the early fractions, picked up cover from Voelz Hanover (Mario Baillargeon). Ardor Locke powered home in :28-seconds to pick up the 1:53.1 victory by one length. Prevailing in a three-horse photo for place was Smashbox (Keith Oliver). Four Starz Horndog (Sylvain Filion) and Voelz Hanover finished third and fourth.
Ardor Locke paid $16 as the 7-1 fourth choice. The five-year-old mare is now three-for-four on the year with $40,040 earned. Her 10th career win boosted her bankroll to $154,055.
To view Friday's results, click here.