Rideau Carleton Raceway hosted round two of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold action for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies on Sunday, June 23, each with a lone $140,000 division on the card. Dr. Ian Moore trainees Storm Shadow and Odds On Platinum secured victories in their respective races to provide the conditioner with a Sunday stakes sweep.
The pacing colts and geldings stepped into the spotlight first in the evening's sixth race with Storm Shadow and driver Bob McClure leaving from post three as the 2-5 favourite. McClure settled in the third position off of the gate while Trophy Taker (James MacDonald) took charge of the field to the first quarter in :27.2. Trophy Taker had things his way to the halfway point in :55 as Storm Shadow mulled his first-over decision before committing to the outside on the backstretch. Under McClure urging, Storm Shadow moved into second, reaching the leader's wheel at three-quarters in 1:22.4.
The pack tightened considerably rounding the final turn, with Storm Shadow continuing to bear down on Trophy Taker, moving within a half-length of the lead at the top of the stretch. In the lane, Storm Shadow put away Trophy Taker but faced a new threat with a hard-charging Wikipedia (Trevor Henry) doing his best work late. Wikipedia thundered home to make a race of it late, but it was Storm Shadow who got his nose down on the wire first in 1:51.4. Unrivaled Hanover (Jonathan Drury) finished third.
The victory was the first of the season for Storm Shadow in his seventh start of 2024. R G McGroup Ltd., Serge Savard, Mac Nichol and Bolton Farms LLC own the son of Bettors Delight-Fade. Following the fifth victory of his career, the two-year-old OSS Super Final winner now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $513,989.
Subbing for Sylvain Filion, who was taking the night off after a spill on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park, driver Stephane Brosseau took to the bike for Moore aboard Odds On Platinum to earn the victory in the lone division for pacing fillies. Sent off as the even-money favourite, Brosseau quickly grabbed the lead from the outset, taking the scratched down field of seven to the quarter in a blistering :26.2. Odds On Platinum was left alone on the lead to the half in :55.2 while Greatest Pleasure (Bob McClure) started the outer flow from third. Odds On Platinum was unable to counter despite Brosseau urging and had to settle for the pocket spot as Greatest Pleasure surged to the lead on the backstretch and cleared at three-quarters in 1:22.3.
Odds On Platinum was far from finished turning for home, however, winding up another rally from second and tipping out from the pocket to go right back at Greatest Pleasure at the top of the lane. Odds On Platinum made quick work of her opponent in the stretch, opening up by three lengths with a :27.4 final quarter to score in a lifetime best 1:50.3. Greatest Pleasure held for second and Lightning Lizzie (Brett MacDonald) finished third.
The 1:50.3 clocking was the fastest mile paced by any three-year-old on a five-eighths-mile track on Canadian soil thus far in 2024. The time was just one-fifth of a second slower than the 1:50.2 Canadian record for three-year-old pacing fillies established by Powerful Chris at Rideau Carleton in 2019.
Odds On Platinum is a daughter of Bettors Delight-American Jewel and is owned by Odds On Racing along with Let It Ride Stables Inc. The victory was the first of 2024 for Odds On Platinum in her sixth seasonal outing. Sporting lifetime earnings of $509,052, Odds On Platinum is now a three-time winner in her career.
The Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series will continue for both the three-year-old pacing colts and fillies on July 20 with the $150,000 Mid-Season Finals contested at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)