Lyons Elite set a national season’s record while Mach It Big and Bullet Speed also emerged victorious in a trio of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations for two-year-old colt pacers on Thursday night
at Mohawk Racetrack.
Mach It Big took advantage of a pocket-trip to win the first $40,000 elimination for driver Rick Zeron in 1:53. The son of Mach Three–Belinda Hanover left sharply for command from post five before yielding to favourite Mystician and following in the two hole the rest of the way.
Zeron was able to draft in with his charge until part way through the stretch when he tipped out and overhauled Mystician to win by a length. It was another 3-1/4 lengths back to Dr Dew who finished third. The winner returned a generous $12.50.
Mach It Big is now perfect in two career starts for trainer Carl Jamieson who co-owns along with Thomas Kyron of Toronto, Ontario. The clocking was the fastest in Canada this season for a rookie colt pacer but would be short-lived.
Lyons Elite lowered that time with a sparkling 1:52.3 effort in the second split for driver Jack Moiseyev. The son of Life Sign–Worth The Win shot to command just past the quarter and then powered to a 2-1/4 length score with a :26.4 final frame.
Drain Daddy followed in to finish second with Prodigal Seelster rounding out the top three. Lyons Elite was sent off as the public’s choice and returned a popular $3.20 for the win.
The colt, who was a flying second in his debut a week earlier, is now one-for-two this season for owners Geoffrey Lyons Mound and Harness Racing Cdn Elite of Ontario and trainer Wayne Preszcator.
In the final split, first-time starter Bullet Speed was able to dodge several breakers in the early going and ended up working out a perfect pocket trip for driver Paul MacDonell en route to a 1:53.4 tally. The son of Camluck–Lady Ann Mathew was two lengths better than Machal Jackson, who made a break at the start, while pacesetter Hold Your Hat held third.
Bullet Speed returned $9.90 in his winning debut for trainer Tim Pinske of Plato, Minnesota, who also owns the colt.
The final will go postward next Thursday, July 15 at Mohawk. Here’s a look at the field in post position order:
$130,000 O.S.S. Gold Series Final
1. Lyons Elite
2. Grand Master
3. Bullet Speed
4. Machal Jackson
5. Mach It Big
6. Mystician
7. Prodigal Seelster
8. Hold Your Hat
9. Dr Dew
10. Drain Daddy
(WEG)
To view Thursday’s results, click here.