The Ontario Sires Stakes season got underway for this year’s crop of two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Sunday evening at Mohawk Racetrack
, with 23 youngsters on hand for a trio of $40,000 Gold Series eliminations.
The top three finishers from each elimination plus one of the fourth-place finishers drawn by lot will have the chance to return to the Campbellville, Ontario oval one week form this evening for the $130,000 OSS Gold Series final.
Driver Luc Ouellette and trainer Murray Brethour teamed up to take the first elimination with Mach Dreamer, who was making his third lifetime start for owner/breeder Stephen Scarff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The son of Mach Three-Boy Meets Girl tripped out on second-over cover in the final half of the mile en route to posting a 1:55.1 win.
Sent off at odds of 9-2, Mach Dreamer surged past pacesetter Mcmaverick, who was sent off as the 3-5 choice, and held off Tigers Mattjesty for the maiden-breaking decision. The other cheques went to Daleys Interest (4th) and Mavericky (5th).
Brethour trains and Scarff bred and owns the colt’s full sister, Freckly Sara (1:52.3 - $202,119).
The second elimination saw Lyons Danny equal this year’s North American record for two-year-old speed when he blazed his way to a 1:53.1 performance for driver Jack Moiseyev and trainer Shawn Robinson. Moiseyev sat third with his charge until shortly after the :28.2 quarter before rolling to the top. Once he cleared he produced panels of :57 and 1:26 before roaring home in :27.1 to stop the clock in 1:53.1. Future Million, who did the first-over work, was a determined runner-up and Brusiers Brother was third. Final cheques went Living Dangerously (4th) and Good Bad Lucky (5th).
Joseph Lyons Mound of Burford, Ontario holds the papers on the youngster, who is now 3-for-3 to start his career. The colt has banked $51,795 to date, which more than covers his $14,000 price tag from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
An ultra-impressive stretch rally earned Grin For Money the trophy in the third elimination for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer John Kopas. The son of Grinfromeartoear-Our Inheritance powered home in :26.2 to pull off a 16-1 upset in a career-best clocking of 1:54.2. Race favourite Wellthereyougo was second and Adrenaline rounded out the top three. The final two cheques went to Toughest Of All (4th) and P L Dangerous (5th).
The colt, who was modeling a Swedish knee boot, is owned by the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association New Owners group, Grin For Money Stable. Mentored by Tom Brodhurst of London, Ontario, the group shelled out $20,000 to purchase the youngster at last year’s Canadian Open Yearling Sale.
Mohawk will host the $130,000 OSS Gold Series final for the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings next Sunday evening. Here’s how they’ll line up on the starting gate:
$130,000 OSS Gold Series Final - Sunday, July 19
1. Mcmaverick
2. Brusiers Brother
3. Lyons Danny
4. Tigers Mattjesty
5. Grin For Money
6. Daleys Interest
7. Mach Dreamer
8. Future Million
9. Wellthereyougo
10. Adrenaline
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.