Three-year-old trotting colts and geldings made their way to Flamboro Downs on Friday evening as Canada’s fastest half-miler played host to a set of $46,310 divisions of the Bud Light Stakes
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Boogie Woogie tripped out on second over cover and then forged past the leaders in the closing strides to take the opening split for owner/trainer/driver Keith Oliver of Lynden, ON in 1:58.2.
Oliver watched Santo Domingo (Mario Baillargeon) throw down early fractions of :28.3 and :58.4 before moving out to track the cover of Go Go Red Marty (Mike Saftic), who applied first over pressure on the leader. Santo Domingo and Go Go Red Marty were side-by-side at the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3, but neither trotter could fend off the late rushing Boogie Woogie. Race favourite Windsong Geant (Mark MacDonald) snuck through late to grab the runner-up award, with Rudy Rocks (J. R. Plante) rounding out the top three.
The victory was the seventh of the season in just 11 trips postward for Boogie Woogie, a gelded son of Ken Warkentin-Dixieland Jazz. The lion’s share of the purse lifted the trotter’s career bankroll to $127,271.
Krakatoa went gate-to-wire in the second division for the tandem of driver Randy Fritz and trainer Gregg McNair.
The homebred son of Amigo Hall-Pretty Muscles shot to immediate command from the rail and successfully laid down splits of :29.4, :59.4 and 1:29.2 before sprinting home in :28.3 while feeling heavy pressure from Keystone Swagger (Mike Saftic). Krakatoa stopped the teletimer in 1:58 and won by a quarter of a length over Keystone Swagger. Third prize went to Diamond Tough (Mario Baillargeon).
It was the fifth consecutive victory for Krakatoa, who is owned by Bloomingwood Farms Ltd of Harriston, ON. The colt now boasts a 6-3-0 record from just 12 starts this season. The winning payday pushed his overall cash stash to $184,505.
To view Friday’s results, click here.