Dalhousie Dave and Mach Dreamer both scored sub-1:50 victories in capturing their respective Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers during a perfect Friday evening
at Mohawk Racetrack.
Dalhousie Dave converted from a perfect pocket trip, compliments of driver Jody Jamieson, to haul down the opening $40,000 contest in 1:49.4. The son of Astreos–My Precious Katie drafted in behind Big Bay Point for most of the mile before popping out late in the stretch to prevail by a length.
Big Bay Point managed to stay for the place spot with Stonebridge Tonic rounding out the top three. The winner returned $6.20 for the win.
“Big Bay Point was leaving so I was just going to follow him because you try to make it as easy as possible and still get the win,” said Jamieson afterwards. “He was going from Summertime Series to open three-year-old pacers.
“It took him a few starts to get the right drive to get to the winner’s circle. I let him pull up right at the wire and it was still a big trip. I’m excited for next week; with a good draw I think you’re going to hear from Dalhousie Dave.”
The win was the seventh in just 11 starts this season for the Tony O’Sullivan trainee who boosted his bankroll to just over $158,000 for owners John and Jim Fielding of Toronto.
In the second split, driver Rick Zeron sat patiently in fourth position throughout the mile with Mach Dreamer and watched Future Million lead the field through a :55-second opening half mile.
Jody Jamieson went for broke with the pacesetter in the third quarter and blazed past the third marker in 1:21.4 with Windsong Gorgeous moving up on the outside and Mach Dreamer following in close pursuit. The :26.4 third quarter caught up to Future Million who was unable to hold off the late onslaught of Mach Dreamer who thundered past easily for the 1:49.1 tally.
Future Million lasted bravely for the place spot with Twin B Warrior overcoming a shaky start to salvage third. The winner returned a popular $3.30 as the prohibitive favourite in the field and missed the overall Ontario Sires Stakes record by just one-fifth of a second.
“He’s a really good colt. His last couple of starts he was huge, and actually his last start in the Gold final he was phenomenal,” said a happy Zeron in the Mohawk winner’s circle. “Tonight I got a nice trip, Luc (Ouellette – driving Windsong Gorgeous) came out in front of me and I hovered behind him a little bit. Then when I spoke to him turning for home he dug in and then I looked over spoke to him a little bit at the seven-eighths and he dug deeper. I still had horse left at the wire.”
The win was the third straight and fifth overall this season in 14 starts for the son of Mach Three – Boy Meets Girl who is trained by Murray Brethour for owner Stephen Scarff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The lion’s share of the purse vaulted him past $203,000 in earnings this season.
The final will go postward next Friday night at Mohawk. Here is a look at the field in post position order:
$130,000 O.S.S. Gold Series Final – 3CP
1. Big Bay Point
2. Future Million
3. Stonebridge Tonic
4. Adrenaline
5. Twin B Warrior
6. Keystone Raptor
7. Dalhousie Dave
8. Red Bugler
9. Windsong Gorgeous
10. Mach Dreamer
(WEG)
To view Friday’s results, click here.