The Ontario Sires Stakes made its 2011 debut at Mohawk Racetrack on Sunday evening, with three-year-old trotting colts and geldings slugging it out in a trio of Gold Series eliminations
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Last year’s Super Final champ in the two-year-old trotting colt division, Daylon Magician, was triumphant in his 2011 debut for owner/breeder/trainer David Lemon of Komoka, Ontario. The son of Kadabra-Daylon Marvel came first over on Edit, who chopped out panels of :28, :58.1 and 1:27.1, and sprinted away from that foe and the others in the late stages of the mile. In fact, a :27.3 final frame earned Daylon Magician a four-length triumph in a career-best clocking of 1:54.4. Edit was next best, with Buckhams Bay grabbing the show dough.
Jack Moiseyev mapped out the winning trip for Daylon Magician, who finished his freshman season with a 3-2-1 record from eight tries. The colt, who was sent off as the 2-5 favourite in the six-horse affair, banked just over $225,000 last year.
Sim Brown also used an off-the-pace approach to capture his $40,000 elimination assignment for driver Randy Waples in a career-best clocking of 1:56.2. Delcrest Julian and race favourite Lakefield took turns on the lead through fractions of :28, :59.1 and 1:28.1, but Sim Brown’s final quarter of :27.3 was just enough to earn him the head decision over Lakefield. Twin B Herbie Came on strong to finish third.
Trainer Jeff Gillis co-owns the son of Angus Hall-Trophy Bass with partners Mac Nichol and Gerald Stay, and together they watched the youngster put together a 1-3-2 record from 11 starts in last year’s rookie campaign. He managed to stash away more than $143,000 along the way.
Mr Joe Sixpack was a 1:55.4 winner in his 2011 debut at Woodbine Racetrack on May 13, and he was even better when he captured Sunday’s third elimination in a career-best clocking of 1:54.1 for driver Randy Waples. The son of Striking Sahbra-Bambino Lau rallied in deep stretch en route to posting the 4-1 mild upset. Imperial Count was the runner-up, and third prize went to Undercover Strike.
Three generations of the Arsenault family – Lou, Shane and Brandon – share ownership on the colt who hangs his harness bag in Shane’s barn. The 2010 season saw Mr Joe Sixpack put together a 2-2-0 record from seven tries, and that translated into earnings just shy of $40,000.
The top three finishers from each elimination plus one of the fourth-place finishers (Over And Out) will line up behind the starting gate in the final, which is slated for Monday, May 30 at Mohawk Racetrack. Here’s how they’ll line up:
$130,000 OSS Gold Series Final
1. Lakefield
2. Over And Out
3. Buckhams Bay
4. Undercover Strike
5. Sim Brown
6. Daylon Magician
7. Imperial Count
8. Twin B Herbie
9. Mr Joe Sixpack
10. Edit
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.