In second round action of the Young Guns Series tonight at Sudbury Downs, Northern Flight, Auditorial and Foxys Fire Water each prevailed in their respective $8,500 divisions
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Northern Flight claimed the first and fastest split in 2:01 for trainer/driver Mario Rivest after he advanced to the lead from sixth following the opening quarter and then kicked away by three lengths. Names Fame (Jay Polifroni) and Ari S (Paul MacLean) followed the winner to finish back in second and third.
Rivest shares ownership of the five-year-old son of Northern Luck-Fearless Flight with Kari Rivest of Hanmer, Ont. Northern Flight is now four-for-six in 2009. The bay has won half of his 12 career starts and earned over $21,000.
Auditorial provided Rivest with his second of three wins on the night when he rallied from off second-over cover from fourth to win by a length in 2:02.1. In The Studio (Justin Turcotte) came on for second as pacesetter Enlightened Cam (Paul MacLean) faded to third.
The three-year-old Artsplace-Special Addition gelding is owned by Kari Rivest and Richard Pancel. Unraced at two, Auditorial has won half of his 12 starts and earned over $23,000 in purses.
Foxys Fire Water was a repeat winner in the final division for driver Don Gillis, Jr. and trainer Dion MacLean. The four-year-old gelded son of Towners Big Guy-Instant Reserve produced the greatest margin of victory after traveling first-up and kicking away by six lengths in the stretch. Foxys Fire Water tripped the teletimer in 2:02 with Doc Beatz Em All (Paul MacLean) coming second and Kritzer Hanover (Gerry Belanger) finishing third.
Owned by Shaws Creek Stable of Orangeville, Ont., Foxys Fire Water scored his second win in seven seasonal starts. His ninth career win pushed his bankroll to over $37,000.
The series for five-year-olds and under that are non-winners of three races of $30,000 lifetime ($40,000 for fillies and mares, winners over $50,000 not eligible) continues through the next three Saturday nights. The first three legs are qualifying rounds with horses receiving points on the following basis: win (nine), second (five), third (three), fourth (two) and fifth (one). Each qualifying division will offer an $8,500 purse. The nine highest point earners entered for the final will compete for an $18,700 purse on September 12. The Young Guns Stake is an annual event and since its inception in 1991, it has been the longest, continuously run stake at the track.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.