The stars will abound at Western Fair Raceway on Friday, May 20, as the track is set to hosts two eliminations for its signature race, the Molson Pace, and the first Ontario Sires Stakes events of the year
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The two $20,000 Molson Pace eliminations will go postward as Race 6 and 11.
In the first elim, early favourite Art Professor has drawn Post 5 with Jody Jamieson listed to drive. Trained by Ben Wallace for owners Brad Grant and Holland Racing Stable, the four-year-old son of Art Major made headlines last month when he stopped the 25-race winning streak of St Elmo Hero. Purchased by his current connections for $200,000 at last fall’s Harrisburg Sale, Art Professor comes into Friday’s test with a 2011 slate which reads 6-1-4 from 15 starts, good for $143,000 in purse earnings. His last race was a victory on May 7 at Woodbine in a life's best 1:50.
Also starting in the first elim is local hopeful Legal Litigator who finished second, by a head, in his Molson Pace elim last year. He finished eighth in the 2010 final. The six-year-old, owned and bred by Bob Hamather of Exeter, Ont., took his life's mark of 1:49.4 earlier this year.
The second Molson Pace elim will feature three starters from last year’s final: Foiled Again, Annieswesterncard and Lucky Man.
Foiled Again will be making his third appearance in the Molson Pace. A seven-year-old gelding by Dragon Again, Foiled Again finished a very close second to his stablemate Won The West in last year’s Molson Pace finale. He comes into Friday’s event fresh off a win last Saturday night in the $246,000 final of the Graduate at the Meadowlands. Owned by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stable, Foiled Again has drawn Post 2 in Friday’s contest. His regular driver, Yannick Gingras, will make the trip to London to guide him.
The top four finishers in each of the eliminations will return for the $300,000 (estimated) final on May 27.
Friday’s card also features the first Ontario Sires Stakes events of the 2011 season with eliminations for three-year-old fillies, both trotting and pacing. The $130,000 OSS Gold finals will also be held on Molson Pace night, May 27.
To view entries for Friday's card of harness racing at Western Fair Raceway, click the following link: Friday Entries - Western Fair Raceway.
The fields for the Molson Pace eliminations and OSS events are also listed below.
Molson Pace Elim No. 1
Race 6
Post Position - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Perrito Caliente - Ma. MacDonald
2 - Four Starx Trace - L. Ouellette
3 - Atochia - Y. Gingras
4 - Stonebridge Tonic - D. McNair
5 - Art Professor - J. Jamieson
6 - Legal Litigator - Ma. MacDonald
7 - Rock Me Please - Ra. Waples
8 - Part Shark - S. Zeron
Molson Pace Elim No. 2
Race 11
Post Position - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Anderlecht - C. Christoforou
2 - Foiled Again - Y. Gingras
3 - Annieswesterncard - L. Ouellette
4 - Jackets Required - Ra. Waples
5 - Valentino - J. Jamieson
6 - Lucky Man - Ma. MacDonald
7 - Ideal Race - Ri. Zeron
8 - Aracache Hanover - D. McNair
OSS Gold Elim
Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Race 1
Post Position - Horse
1 - Camille
2 - Patsys Luck
3 - Monkey On My Wheel
4 - Smartygirl
5 - Mias Star
OSS Gold Elim
Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Race 5
Post Position - Horse
1 - Village Janus
2 - Look Cheep
3 - Lauren
4 - Shipps Xanadu
5 - Mach Lady
6 - Modern Connection
OSS Gold Elim
Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Race 8
Post Position - Horse
1 - Extraordinaire
2 - Momentous
3 - Youlneverwalkalone
4 - Quantum Victoria
5 - China Pearls
6 - Who Took That
7 - Angel Warken
8 - Magical Paige
OSS Gold Elim
Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Race 9
Post Position - Horse
1 - Oh Sweet Baby
2 - Peach Martini
3 - Eagle Canada
4 - My Whispering Eye
5 - Athletic Lover
6 - Surveillance
7 - Rise N Shine
OSS Gold Elim
Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Race 10
Post Position - Horse
1 - Pretty Crafty
2 - Enchantment
3 - Last Chance Babie
4 - L A Freeway
5 - Ms Canada Kadabra
6 - Right Back At You
7 - Scorpius
8 - Lukes Sophie
(WFR)