A trio of rookie trotting fillies stormed to the finish line together in Monday evening’s $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series final, and that put the photo finish camera to work to help decide the winner
. When the ORC Judges reviewed the photo finish picture, they determined Sooner Than Later held on for the win – barely!
Trevor Ritchie hustled the Doug McIntosh-trained daughter of Striking Sahbra-New Image Soon to the lead, and she found the finish line just in the nick of time. On top through panels of :29, 1:00.1 and 1:30.2, the freshman needed just :30.2 final quarter speed to fend off the hard-closing Random Destiny and pocket-sitter Ruling Class in a track record-equaling clocking of 2:00.4.
That standard was established in last week’s eliminations by Wilsonator, who finished fifth in Monday’s final.
After finishing second in her debut in a $63,467 division of the Robert Stewart Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack on July 5, Sooner Than Later posted a 2:02.3 victory in her OSS Gold Series elimination at Grand River Raceway. The victory in tonight’s final bumped her bankroll to $101,116.
McIntosh shares ownership on the filly with her breeder, William Weaver III of Freehold, New Jersey.
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click here.
It's almost hard to believe
It's almost hard to believe the 9 horse beat the 7 for place in this race but perhaps someone can post a copy of the photo. I know the 9 was coming hard but it just didn't look like it especially when the bias seems to to the inside when viewing the finish at Grand River.