A pair of popular three-year-old Kadabra sons prevailed in the $10,000 eliminations for the Ontario Prep Series on Sunday at Flamboro Downs
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The first elimination was won by favourite Midfield Magic ($5.40) and driver Doug Brown in 1:58.4. After having scored top three finishes in the Tie Silk Trotting Series at Woodbine Racetrack in April, the Frank O'Reilly trainee advanced from third past the :29.2 opening quarter and cleared to command in front of the grandstand before hitting the half in :58.3. The Kadabra-Midori Hanover gelding raced by the third quarter station in 1:28.4 and cruised home for the three-quarter length victory. The Golden Child came from mid-pack to finish second while Cimeronken recovered from a break at the half to finish third two and a half lengths behind.
After scoring a win in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots program in his career debut last season, Midfield Magic stepped up to compete in Gold stakes company. On Sunday, he notched his fourth win in 11 career starts for Quebec owners Frank Cianci of St-Laurent, Isidoro Russo of Montreal, Vincenzo Monticciolo of Laval, and Toronto, Ontario's John Fielding.
Favourite Northern Escort ($4.40), driven by Sylvain Filion for trainer Justin Filion, won the other elimination in 1:59 flat. The Kadabra-Tease Please colt got away fourth while Silence Son took the lead off the gate and reached the first quarter in :29.1, followed by the half 1:00. At the midway point, Northern Escort began to advance first up and ducked into the gapping two-hole down the backstretch. As the field approached the 1:29.3 third quarter mark, Northern Escort pulled the pocket and then chased down the pacesetter into the stretch before opening up three and three-quarter lengths on his foes. Silence Son stayed for second and O U Sexy Guy finished third.
Northern Escort, also a winner of an OSS Grassroots division as a freshman, notched the second victory of his career in his seventh attempt. He is owned by Les Ecuries JYJ Inc. of St-Andre-D'Argenteuil, Quebec.
The Ontario Prep Series is for three-year-old Ontario sired pacers and trotters that are non-winners of $40,000 in 2011. The $50,000 (added) final for the trotting colts is scheduled for next Sunday, May 13 while the trotting fillies will face off on Wednesday, May 9.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.