Ja El Express, Pointe To Pointe and War King Ton each won their freshmen debuts in a trio of Bud Light Stakes divisions featured on Saturday afternoon at Flamboro Downs
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In the first $39,150 division, Ja El Express prevailed in wire-to-wire fashion for trainer Fred Jamieson and owners Jeff Gillis of Guelph and Ken Henwood of Mississauga, Ont.
The Kadabra colt, sent postward as the 1-5 bettor’s choice, and driver Jody Jamieson crossed over from the outside Post 7 and put up fractions of :31, 1:03 and 1:34.1 en route to victory in 2:04. Reach Higher (Steve Condren) finished just over a length back in second with Markofdistinction (Jonathan Drury) rounding out the top three.
Division number two went to Pointe To Pointe and trainer/driver Wayne Henry in a 30-1 shocker for the Henry Stable of Arthur and Jeff Thomson of Chesley, Ont.
With the majority of the field getting off to a rough start, Pointe To Pointe settled in second behind Bay Lightning (Norm Dessureault), but he too stepped off stride after the first turn. With the field gapped out, Bay Lightning reached the first quarter in :31.4 with Pointe To Pointe trailing 10 lengths behind.
Pointe To Pointe managed to straighten up and brushed to command before the half in 1:03.3. The son of Mutineer established a six length lead on the field as he passed three-quarters in 1:33 and held off Bay Lightning down the stretch to win by three-quarter lengths in 2:04.2. Boogie Woogie (Carl Jamieson) recovered from an early miscue to finish third.
Fan favourite War King Ton and Chris Christoforou scored in the final and fastest $38,460 division for trainer Bruce MacDonald and owners Marv Chantler of Loretto, Ont., Daniel Macisaac of Charlottetown, P.E.I., and John McCormack and Richard Bartel of Kelowna, B.C.
A son of Ken Warkentin, War King Ton left from post position six and got away third behind Schuyler (George Zirnis) and the pacesetting Thro Time (Doug Ackerman) while the rest of the field made early breaks. Thro Time carved out fractions of :29.4, 1:01.4 and 1:32.3.
Heading to the third quarter mark, the pocket-sitting Schuyler (George Zirnis) rolled off stride and the 4-5 favoured War King Ton kicked into action from there. War King Ton trotted past the pacesetter in the stretch winning by a length and a half in 2:03.4. Quantum Starship (Trevor Ritchie) finished back in third.
To view Saturday's results, click here.