Bare Necessity kept his undefeated win streak in tact with a wire-to-wire performance in the first of two $20,000 Ontario Spring Open eliminations for three-year-olds early Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack
. The Ontario Spring Open is for Ontario sired three-year-olds, who are non-winners of $25,000 in 2010.
Driver Sylvain Filion fired favourite Bare Necessity off the gate from the outside Post 6 in the opening elimination with longshot Luck And Kisses (Doug McNair) in second and the parked out Emerson Seelster (Mark MacDonald) rolling off stride while looking for a hole.
Bare Necessity reached the opening quarter in :27 before taking a breather. He was at the half in :57.4, followed by three-quarters in 1:28 with Drain Daddy (Rick Zeron) launching a first over attack from fourth. Bare Necessity opened up a couple lengths on the field in the stretch with a :26.3 final frame, giving him enough momentum to hold off his challengers for the 1:54.3 victory. Drain Daddy narrowed the winner’s margin to half a length and was followed by Legends Luck (Scott Zeron), Lifeoftheoldboy (Jody Jamieson) and Luck And Kisses, who also advanced to next week’s final.
Both Lifeoftheoldboy and Legends Luck were refunded due to interference caused by movement of the starting gate before the wings folded.
"It's kind of been the way he's been racing, off the front end," trainer Eric Adams told WEG's Media Department. "It's been a nice surprise. He's won five in a row now. I don't know if it is going to go that way next week. We're getting to draw our post position so I'll draw an inside post and see what happens."
Bare Necessity paid $2.80 for the win. The homebred Apaches Fame-Presidential Speed gelding is now five-for-five in his career with $34,000 earned for the Millar Farms of Newmarket, Ont.
Road Untraveled claimed the top prize in the second elimination after taking a first over trip to the winner’s circle.
P L Earl (Jason Brewer) crossed over from the outside Post 6 to take command ahead of Windsong Hermes (Jody Jamieson) during the :27.3 first quarter. Making an quarter pole move, ‘Hermes’ brushed to command and was followed by Pisti (Mark MacDonald) before the half flashed up in :57.1.
After watching the early action from fourth, Road Untraveled and driver Rick Zeron moved underway and applied pressure past three-quarters in 1:26 and into the stretch. Meanwhile, Windsong Hermes made a costly break around the final turn causing interference to P L Earl, who hooked up with Billy White Sell (Scott Zeron).
Up front, Road Untraveled continued to chip away at Pisti’s lead, eventually wearing him down to score in 1:53.2. Favourite Playin Time (Chris Christoforou) came on for second, finishing half a length behind, while Pisti settled for third. Billy White Sell and P L Earl finished fourth and fifth, also advancing to the final.
"The colt raced very, very well first up," trainer Mark Cecile told WEG's Media Department following the win. "I kind of like him off a helmet because he can kick off a helmet real good but first up was ok too, he got by them."
Road Untraveled paid $9.90 for the mild upset. The Grinfromeartoear-Ivory Tower colt picked up his second win in six career outings, nearly doubling his bankroll to $21,740 for 1187422 Ontario Inc. of Gloucester, Ont.
Here is a look at the post position draw for next week's $60,000 Ontario Spring Open final:
1. Road Untraveled
2. Luck And Kisses
3. Bare Necessity
4. Billy White Sell
5. P L Earl
6. Drain Daddy
7. Playin Time
8. Pisti
9. Legends Luck
10. Lifeoftheoldboy
AE1. Windsong Hermes
For results from Friday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.