Equity delivered as expected while Structure Fire scored a shocker in Saturday’s pair of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Mohawk Racetrack
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Structure Fire used off-the-pace tactics to score a surprise victory in the first $40,000 elimination for driver Jason Brewer in 1:54.3. The son of Amigo Hall - Fire Breather sat inside fifth for much of the mile before hitting his best stride in the homestretch to wear down a hard-used Hitithard (Mike Saftic) with P L Cooper (Sylvain Filion) rounding out the top three.
The victory was the third in 12 tries this season for Structure Fire and a new lifetime best. Trainer Gary Lance co-owns the colt along with Trevor Lance and Brian Samis. The lion’s share of the purse propelled him past $69,000 in seasonal earnings. He returned $29.20 in the upset win.
In the second split, Equity, who started from the trailing Post 11, converted off a perfect second-over trip compliments of driver Randy Waples and extended his unbeaten streak to seven with a solid 1:55.1 tally. Angeldrive (Rick Zeron) set most of the fractions and held gamely for the place spot with Panz Kafka (Steve Condren) landing the show position.
“It would have been easier to leave behind the one (post one starter), but I just wanted to make sure I gave him a clean trip,” said Waples, referring to his decision to leave out behind the number four starter Angeldrive. “That was the game plan, to let him settle away and go from there.
“He’s a really good horse, there’s no doubt about that. The only thing that’s going to beat him is some bad luck or if he beats himself. They’ve got him real good right now.”
The son of Kadabra - Earl Of My Dreams now has nine wins in just 11 starts this season for trainer Charalambos Christoforou who co-owns along with the Banjo Farms of Toronto, Ont. He returned just $3.00 for the win and boosted his seasonal earnings to just over $256,000.
The $130,000 OSS Gold Final will go postward next Saturday night at Mohawk. Here is a look at the field in post position order:
1. Equity
2. Senator Hall
3. Hour Lavec
4. Structure Fire
5. P L Cooper
6. Hitithard
7. Angeldrive
8. Celebrity Hercules
9. Panz Kafka
10. Illusionsndreams
In Open action, Quail Seelster flew home in :26-seconds to lower her mark and post a 17-1 surprise in the $44,000 Fillies & Mares pacing event.
With Randy Waples at the lines, the five-year-old daughter of Camluck-Queen From Omaha got away fifth from Post 6 as Blissful Smile (Mike Saftic) crossed over from the outside Post 7 to claim the lead and put up a :26.3 opening quarter. From there, Marietta Hall (Sylvain Filion) popped the pocket and rolled past the half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:24.2. Meanwhile, Waples had his charge positioned second-over behind the favoured Pink Kanagoo (Steve Condren). In the stretch, Quail Seelster powered home for the 1:51 score.
Marietta Hall was the runner-up with Pink Kanagroo rounding out the top three.
Mike Grant trains the winner of three races in eight starts and $52,180 this year. The win was lucky number 13 for the bay, who has banked $388,852 lifetime.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click here.
(With files from WEG)