Tuesday afternoon’s card at The Raceway at The Western Fair District featured the first OSS races of the season, unfortunately someone forget to send Mother Nature the memo.
Three-year-old trotting colts and geldings put on quite a speed show in the first leg of the Gold Series despite the rain, mud and cold weather. Three divisions – each worth $70,000 – went postward, and last year’s O’Brien Award-winning reinsman, Sylvain Filion, had a productive day.
Filion took the opening split with Thankyoukessel, who used front-stepping tactics to win his assignment in 2:00.4. Filion hustled the homebred to the front and he was allowed to dictate the terms of tempo. Panels of :31, 1:03 and 1:31.3 were put up by the gelding who used a :29.1 closing quarter to seal the deal. Sent off as the 2-1 favourite, Thankyoukessel defeated Third Pat and Magic Cheque.
Joe MacIsaac trains the son of Ken Warkentin-Chelemark Gizmo for Carolyn Williston of Moffat, ON, and together they watched the gelding nab his first ever stakes victory. The $35,000 payday lifted the trotter’s lifetime cash stash to $75,890.
Even-money favourite Buddy Hally was parked to the quarter pole in :28 in the second division, but he eventually cleared to the top for Doug McNair and cruised to an easy victory in 1:58.4. The colt hit the half in :58.1 and the three-quarter pole in 1:29 before using a :29.4 final frame to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Muscle Max. Third prize was earned by Eat Pray Trot.
Trainer Gregg McNair co-owns the son of Angus Hall-Credibility with Howmac Farms Ltd, Reginald MacPherson and Wayne MacRae. It was the first win of the year – and the fourth to date – for last year’s OSS Grassroots champion. The $35,000 payday bumped his lifetime earnings to $124,750.
Filion scooped up his second stakes win on the card in the third division with Northern Bullet. Sent off at odds of 5-2, the son of Muscle Mass-Flame Tamer shot to the front and supplied the field with fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:27 before trotting home in :31 to hold off Gotta Secret by three-quarters of a length in 1:58. Third prize went to You Rock My World.
Stephane Larocque trains the lightly-raced square gaiter for Les Ecuries Bruce and 9174 7998 Quebec Inc. The win improved the colt’s record to 2-1-0 from three trips to the track. Unraced as a rookie, Northern Bullet bumped his bankroll to $47.250.
The new format for the Gold Series will feature two legs leading to a $150,000 Mid-Season Challenge for the top 10 point earners in the first two legs. A $50,000 Consolation will also be offered for the next 10 point earners.
Those events will be followed by another two legs leading up the $200,000 Super Finals in late September. The top 10 point earners throughout the season will be eligible for Super Finals.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at The Western Fair District.