Twenty-one of Ontario’s finest freshmen trotting colts made their way to Mohawk Racetrack this evening to compete in a pair of $40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations
. The Game Plan and Il Mago were victorious in their eliminations to advance to next weeks $130,000 final.
The Game Plan, driven by Jack Moiseyev, cleared to the lead past the half and that proved to be the winning move as the son of Kadabra-Image Control stopped the clock in a new lifetime best clocking of 1:56.4.
Pokerface It (Trevor Ritchie) left alertly from Post 10 and led past the opening station in :28.3.
Heading towards the half, Ill Be There (Jody Jamieson) was still parked out, but would cross over and take command before the mid-way point in :58.3.
Jamieson’s lead would not last long as The Game Plan, the 7-5 post time favourite, angled to the outside from fourth and quickly brushed to the front past three-quarters in 1:27.4 and into the stretch.
As the rookie trotters marched for home, Moiseyev was under a comfortable hand-drive as The Game Plan extended his lead on his rivals to score a three and three-quarter length victory. Good Sound Advice (Randy Waples) came from off-the-pace to finish second with Ill Be There completing the triactor.
John Kopas trains and co-owns the Game Plan along with the LLK Stable and Anthony Wagner of Mississauga, Ont., and Gary Grieve of Union, Ont. A $20,000 yearling purchase, The Game Plan now has $85,800 in career earnings with three wins from five career starts. He paid $4.90 to win.
After capturing the August 12 Gold final in Rideau Carleton Raceway in his most recent outing, Il Mago and driver Trevor Ritchie found the winner’s circle again in the second elimination. Ritchie guided the two-time winner to new lifetime best clocking of 1:58.2.
On Stride (Rick Zeron) was the first leader as he took his 10 rivals past the first quarter in :28.2.
Prized Fighter (Jody Jamieson) was still on the outside but would clear to the front before the half. Driver Trevor Ritchie also had Il Mago on the move and sent him to the lead past the midway point in :59.2.
House Money (Joe Hudon Jr.) was the first-over attacker around the final turn as Il Mago past three-quarters in 1:29.2.
Down the stretch, Il Mago was still in command, but Prized Fighter angled out from the pocket and was stalking the tempo with every stride. Il Mago would go on to score a narrow victory over a hard-closing Summer Indian (Paul MacDonell) with Prized Fighter finishing third.
Il Mago, a son of Kadabra-Northern Style, is trained by Rod Boyd for Chris Alexander Stables Inc. of Aurora, Ont. and Mark Harder of Freehold, New Jersey. The brown colt now has career earnings of $92,210. He paid $7.20 to win.
Here is a look at the field for next week’s $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold final:
1. The Golden Child
2. Pokerface It
3. Good Sound Advice
4. Ill Be There
5. Il Mago
6. Prized Fighter
7. Heres The Magic
8. The Game Plan
9. Summer Indian
10. Warrawee Nimby
With just a single $25,000 elimination necessary for the SBOA Stakes for sophomore trotting fillies, Randy Waples guided post time favourite China Pearls to an off-the-pace victory.
The daughter of Kadabra-Pure Sable was in no hurry from the start as Oh Sweet Baby (Mario Baillargeon) led past the opening quarter in :27.2. Universal Godess (Chris Christoforou) was in the pocket with Eagle Canada (Doug McNair) tracking her.
The field would remain intact past the midway station in :57.2.
China Pearls angled out from fifth heading into the final turn and was within strides of the tempo-setter past three-quarters in 1:26.2.
At the seven-eighth’s pole, Oh Sweet Baby was overtaken by China Pearls and she would score the victory in 1:54.4. Oh Sweet Baby stayed for second with Magic Wheel (Joe Hudon Jr.) exploding late to finish third.
"She’s defintely been lightly raced so that will likely play in her favour near the end of the year," Waples said following the win. "But right now she’s just really good, it’s as simple as that. That was a good filly in front [Oh Sweet Baby], who kind of had things her own way, and to be able to go by her the way that my filly did is really impressive."
China Pearls is trained and co-owned by Carman Hie, along with Blake Anthony of Millgrove, Ont., Ted Murrell of Sharon, Ont., and Peter Kloepfer of Harley, Ont. A four-time winner in 12 starts, China Pearls now has lifetime earnings of $151,778. She paid $3.40 for the win.
Peach Martini, Lukes Sophie and Mystic Allure received byes based on money earnings and will join the top seven finishers in next week’s $148,654 SBOA final. Here is a look at the field:
1. Ka Jean
2. Eagle Canada
3. Peach Martini
4. China Pearls
5. Lukes Sophie
6. Mystic Allure
7. L A Freeway
8. Oh Sweet Baby
9. Youlneverwalkalone
10. Magic Wheel
With no eliminations required for the SBOA Stakes for sophomore pacing fillies, all five entries will advance to next week’s $132,654 final. Here is a look at the field:
1. Modern Connection
2. Three Charms
3. Mach Lady
4. Patsys Luck
5. Monkey On My Wheel
For results from Friday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)