Favourites came through in impressive fashion in both the Ontario Sires Stakes and Des Smith Classic at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday evening.
Opening the talent-laden program were two Gold Eliminations for the two-year-old pacing fillies and Right On Molly cruised to a two and one-half length victory in the first $40,000 split.
In rein to Jody Jamieson the Stonebridge Regal daughter sat third through the early going and then rolled up to challenge pacesetter Burlesque at the three-quarter marker. The fillies battled around the final turn, but Right On Molly had another gear in the stretch and pulled away to a 1:55 victory. Burlesque settled for second and Burstin Bubbles and Jan It Jackson completed the top four.
Otis Hall conditions Right On Molly for Sauble Hill Farms of Tara and Nasussito Racing Inc of Ayr. The filly was a $5,000 acquisition at the 2011 Forest City Yearling Sale and already has a Grassroots trophy under her belt from the season opener at Mohawk Racetrack on July 1.
In the second pacing filly elimination fan favourite Adventurepan held on for a head victory over lightly rated Kamkar Kutie. The dueling fillies hit the wire in 1:55.2 with third-place finisher Kims Royal Day hot on their heels. Mach Star picked up the fourth-place finisher’s share.
Brett Miller guided Adventurepan to her first victory for trainer Ron Burke and owner-breeder Peter Pan Stables Inc. of Pepper Pike, OH. The Mach Three daughter is the fourth foal from prolific producer Disneypan, whose other offspring have all earned more than $100,000, with former Grassroots champion Tomorrowpan topping the earnings list at $546,291. Adventurepan finished second in her June 28 Gold Elimination at Mohawk Racetrack and finished third in the July 6 Gold Final.
The top four finishers from each pacing filly elimination, plus one fifth-place finisher selected by random draw, will return to Rideau Carleton Raceway next Sunday, July 22 for the second $130,000 Gold Final on their schedule.
All but one of the freshman pacing colts competing in Sunday’s elimination will be back in Ottawa next week as only 10 colts entered the second Gold Series event. Mach Pride captured the single Gold Elimination, his second straight elimination trophy, with a commanding gate-to-wire performance, hitting the wire in a personal best 1:53.
Former Grassroots winner Windsong Jack overcame the trailing Post 10 to finish second, one and one-quarter lengths behind the winner, and another winner from the Grassroots season opener, Southwind Amazon, was five more lengths back in third.
Slight Touch, owned by Robert Seguin of Gatineau, QC, suffered broken equipment in the elimination and was the only colt failing to advance. OK Fabulous, owned by Buckeye Investments of Cornwall, ON, Bayama Farms Inc. of Saint-Andre-D’Argenteuil, QC and Brian Paquet of Quebec, QC, finished fifth.
Anthony MacDonald piloted Mach Pride to his third lifetime win for trainer Louie Eftimiadis and owner Gerald Mijal of Westland, MI. The Mach Three son was purchased by Mijal following his first victory at Raceway Park in Ohio on June 10.
The top nine finishers in the pacing colt Gold Elimination will return to Rideau Carleton for next Sunday’s $130,000 test.
(OSS)
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.