Driver Yannick Gingras rushed Ontario Success to the lead at the quarter in a pulse-pounding :26.4 and then was permitted to tap the brakes for the middle half-mile, which proved to be the difference as the pair took the Saturday night (May 27) feature at The Meadowlands, a $17,500 conditioned pace.
Ontario Success, a seven-year-old gelded son of Lis Mara, was permitted to sleepwalk to the half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:25. Off a middle half that was timed in :58.1, the lifetime earner of $386,613 then sprinted home in a quarter identical to his opening split to win by a diminishing neck over the fast-closing 6-5 favourite, Bettors Edge, in 1:51.4 for trainer Ron Burke, upping his lifetime stats to 30 wins from 103 starts. As the second choice in the wagering, Ontario Success returned $5 to win. J J Flynn was third.
BOMBS AWAY: Longshots ruled in the first three legs of the Pick 5 (Races 1-5), setting up a big payday for one lucky bettor. One Tough Nut ($34.60), Jayes A Lady ($63) and Stitch In Time ($27.60) took the first three races on the card, so even after favourites Sams Triple Crown ($3.80) and Cherokee Ranger ($4.00) completed the quintet, the payout for the winning combination of 5-4-2-8-3 was a whopping $28,411.20.
CHALKY COREY: Driver Corey Callahan led the driver colony with four winners on the card, each was the pubic choice.
All-source wagering on the program totalled $2,310,037.
Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)