There were a couple surprises in the opening leg of the Slots Cup Series for Ontario-sired pacers that are four-years-old and younger on Friday night at Western Fair Raceway when a pair of longshots took the first two of three $12,000 divisions
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Sent postward as the longest shot on the board at odds of 11-1, Classic Ambition and driver Doug McNair rolled to victory in the first division in wire-to-wire fashion. The four-year-old Rustler Hanover – I Sizzle gelding bypassed the quarter pole markers in :28.3, :59 and 1:27.4 while favourite Shiny Mach (Brad Forward) applied first-over pressure. Down the stretch, Classic Ambition managed to hold off his challenger by a quarter-length to win in a career-best 1:56.2 while P J Lucky (Terry Kerr) finished third.
Trained by Kris DiCenzo, Classic Ambition scored his first win of the year in just two starts. The three-time winner had banked over $33,000 lifetime for owners Eugenio Chiaravalle of Binbrook and Giuseppe Mercaldi of Hamilton, Ont.
With Mike Horner at the lines, Stigma Seelster was also an upset winner in his split at odds of 13-1. After getting away sixth and last, the four-year-old gelded son of Western Maverick - Sign Runner picked up cover in the form of Richlyn Hugh (Bruce Richardson) after a :27.4 opening quarter put up by post time favourite Kerrs Light (Trevor Henry). Stigma Seelster advanced on the outside through middle fractions of :58.2 and 1:28 before angling three-wide around the final turn and sprinting home to equal his mark of 1:58.2.
Richlyn Hugh finished a half-length back in second with Kerrs Light rounding out the top three.
Stigma Seelster scored his second win in 16 tries this year and seventh of his career pushing his earnings to over $60,000 for trainer Mark Horner and the Sure Gain Stable of Mitchell and Linda Richardson of Thorndale, Ont.
With Alfred Carroll in the driver’s seat, Monster In Law was the fastest winner in the final split winning in 1:55.1. The post time favourite circled from third to first just past the :28.3 quarter pole. From there, the four-year-old gelded son of Northern Luck - Family Effort rolled past the half in :57.3 and three-quarters in 1:26 before pulling away by three lengths for the triumph.
Mach Beth (Henry) and Greek Island (Richardson) finished second and third respectively.
Monster In Law won for the third time this year in 16 starts and 11th time in his career bringing his earnings to over $107,000 for trainer Don Beatson, who shares ownership with Kenneth Beatson of Toronto and Sandra and Ralph Pitt of Cargill, Ont.
The second leg of the Slots Cup Series is scheduled to take place Saturday, July 18, 2009 at Hanover Raceway. The Series will move to Grand River Raceway on Friday, August 14 for the third leg before heading to Clinton on August 30, 2009. The $75,000 (added) final will take place on Saturday, September 12 at Hiawatha Horse Park.
To view Friday's results, click here.