BGs Folly and Aracache Hanover delivered on their pari-mutual promises in a pair of $50,000 elimination heats for the Confederation Cup on Sunday
at Flamboro Downs.
The top four finishers in each elimination plus one fifth place finisher drawn by lot advance to the $547,000 final, which will close out the card this afternoon.
BGs Folly, a $25,000 supplemental entry, made his connections proud as he rallied from off the pace to win the first elimination.
Malicious (Paul MacDonell) cleared the lead ahead of Foreign Officer (Jody Jamieson) before hitting the first quarter mark in :26 seconds. As he raced past the next marker of :54.2, Four Starz Trace (Luc Ouellette) began to advance first up from fourth with BGs Folly and Dan Dube following his cover.
Four Starz Trace pressed the leader past the three-quarters marker of 1:22.3 but New Jersey Classic winner BGs Folly came flying home on the far outside in :28.4 to prevail in 1:52 by over a length. Four Starz Trace finished second with Malicious hanging on for third over Foreign Officer (Jody Jamieson), who squeezed up the rail to make the final. Stonebridge Tonic (Doug McNair) was fifth and drew in to the final as well.
BGs Folly paid $3.10 to win as the heavy 1-2 favourite. George Berkner trains the Rocknroll Hanover-Art Amour colt for owners Martin Goldman, Chad Aaron, Virginia Berkner and William Salmeri.
“The way the timing goes for three-year-olds everybody is aiming for something different and I just thought I’d give it a shot up here,” said Berkner. “A few of my friends in Canada kind of aimed me this way and one of them is standing in the winner’s circle. I’ve got to give him a lot of credit for putting the bug in my ear.”
Making just two starts at two, BGs Folly earned his eighth win in 19 starts pushing his earnings to $398,065.
In the second elimination, Aracache Hanover avoided some early commotion and rolled to his sixth consecutive victory for Team McNair.
Leaving from the trailing Post 9, Aracache Hanover and Doug McNair avoided a break by Post 1 starter Wellthereyougo (Randy Waples) in front and found a spot at the rail behind Tobago Cays (Jody Jamieson).
McNair had his charge on the move early though and sent him to the top before the :27.1 first quarter. He rolled past the half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:24. Tobago Cays pulled the pocket heading into the final turn, but couldn’t catch Aracache Hanover, who stopped the clock in 1:51.2. Tobago Cays was second with BP Chimo (Paul MacDonell) and Adrenaline (Mario Baillargeon) also advancing to the final with their third and fourth place finishes.
Aracache Hanover paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favourite in the field. The son of Dragon Again-Armbro Cachet is trained by Gregg McNair for owners William Switala and James Martin. The win was his seventh in nine starts this year and ninth overall pushing his bankroll to $266,717.
Here is a look at the field for the Confederation Cup in post position order with final driver changes:
1. Aracache Hanover - Doug McNair
2. Stonebridge Tonic - Mike Saftic
3. BP Chimo - Mark MacDonald
4. Foreign Officer - Jody Jamieson
5. Four Starz Trace - Luc Ouellette
6. Adrenaline - Mario Baillargeon
7. BGs Folly - Dan Dube
8. Tobago Cays - Sylvain Filion
9. Malicious - Paul MacDonell
To view Sunday's results, click here.