Both favourites emerged victorious in their respective Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers over a track rated good on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack
.
Big Bay Point ran his current unbeaten streak to three with another front-end victory in the first $40,000 split for driver Doug McNair.
The strapping son of Camluck – Great Memories took over command just past the opening marker in :26.3 and then laid down splits :54.4 and 1:22.1 while taking a 1-1/2 length lead into the stretch.
As the field turned for home, pocket-sitter Keystone Raptor (Jack Moiseyev) tipped wide and pressed the leader who began to drift across the racetrack. Big Bay Point was able to fend off the challenge and then survived a judges’ inquiry into the stretch drive to deliver as the prohibitive top choice in the wagering.
Big Bay Point stopped the clock in a sparkling 1:50 to record his sixth win in the last seven outings for trainer David Menary and owners Burke Racing Stable Llc. and Weaver Bruscemi Llc. of Pennsylvania. He kicked back $3.00 to win while bumping his seasonal earnings to just over $194,000.
Mach Dreamer used an off-the-pace approach to tally in the second elimination for driver Rick Zeron. The son of Mach Three – Boy Meets Girl sat in fifth position in the early stages and watched as B P Chimo, Adrenaline and Stonebridge Tonic exchanged leads through an opening half in :55.2.
Zeron tipped his charge to the outside just past the half and the pair was able to catch the cover of BP Chimo (Mark MacDonald), who pulled the pocket just before the third panel in 1:23.1. As the field turned for home, the front-enders began to tire and it was Mach Dreamer eventually edging to the front in the late stages.
Mach Dreamer held off a fast-closing Twin B Warrior (Sylvain Filion) with Dalhousie Dave (Paul MacDonell) rallying to pick up the show spot. The final time of 1:50.4 was a lifetime best for the Murray Brethour trainee, who is owned by Stephen Scarff of Halifax, NS.
The winner kicked back a popular $4.20 while improving his seasonal bankroll to just over $118,000.
The $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final will go postward next Saturday night at Mohawk. Here is a look at the field in post position order:
1. Mach Dreamer
2. Big Bay Point
3. Future Million
4. Windsong Gorgeous
5. BP Chimo
6. Adrenaline
7. Twin B Warrior
8. Dalhousie Dave
9. Keystone Raptor
10. Red Bugler
In Open action, the Gord Irwin-trained Bigtime Ball notched his 35th career win as he advanced to the lead from third after outside Post 6 starter Major Hottie (Chris Christoforou) fired off a fierce :25.1 first quarter. Th six-year-old son of Presidential Ball - Keystone Trinidad, with Paul MacDonell in the bike, reached the half in :54.1 and three-quarters in 1:22 before holding off Major Hottie in the stretch to win by a nose in 1:49.2. Lucky Man (Mark MacDonald) finished third.
Bigtime Ball paid $3.20 to win as the 4-5 favourite. It was his win third in a row and eighth of the season out of 14 starts for the Irwin Stables of Cobourg, ON. The lion's share of the $42,000 purse pushed his earnings to $250,000 this year and $1,351,173 lifetime.
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(With files from WEG)