The Ontario Sires Stakes program rolled into Campbellville, Ontario on Sunday evening, as Mohawk Racetrack hosted to a trio of $40,000 OSS Gold Series eliminations
for the province’s top three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
The quickest elimination winner turned out to be Primary Purpose who front-stepped his way to a 1:51.2 triumph for the team of driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Casie Coleman. MacDonald pointed the colt to the quarter pole in :27.2 before backing things down in the second quarter. The half-mile indicator flashed up in :57.2, and that meant it was game over for the backfield.
The three-year-old son of Cammibest-Sing Mitzi For Me came under fierce pressure from Fast Pay in the third quarter, and as a result the three-quarter pole was reached in 1:23.3. After the colts sprinted in the third quarter, Primary Purpose managed to battle back in deep stretch en route to driving away to win by a little more than a length in 1:51.2. Fast Pay was second and Ideal Race rounded out the top three.
Rod Therres of Surrey and Charles MacFarlane of Victoria, BC share ownership on the gelding, who is 5-for-13 this season after going undefeated in seven tries as a rookie. The pacer is just a few hundred dollars shy of hitting the $250,000 mark in lifetime earnings.
Lyons Horace got the job done in the second elimination, and he also benefited from dictating the pace terms for driver Randy Waples. The son of Astreos-Hey Girl shot to the top and led through fractions of :26.4, :57.1 and 1:25.4 before summoning up :27.3 closing speed en route to posting the 1:53.2 clocking over Stonebridge Terror and Barn Art.
Shawn Robinson conditions the colt for owner Joseph Lyons Mound of Burford, ON. Though unraced as a rookie, the pacer has managed to assemble a 7-1-1 record in just 10 starts while banking $167,938 along the way.
Jack Moiseyev mapped out a perfect second-over trip for Shipps Xpectancy in the final elimination, and that’s all the incentive that was needed for the colt to find his way to the winner’s circle for the first time this season.
Winless in his first five attempts, the speedy son of Mach Three-Armbro Purse sat second over in the back half of the mile before vaulting off his cover and roaring home in :26.3. He stopped the clock in 1:51.4, and had a length to spare over runner-up OK Boromir. Third prize went to Rescue Plan.
John Kopas trains the career winner of $247,993 for the Harold G Shipp Stable of Mississauga, ON. The gelding is now 1-for-6 this season and 4-for-19 in his career.
Mohawk Racetrack will roll out the red carpet for the colts and geldings next Sunday evening, as they return to do battle in the final. Here’s how they’ll be lining up on the starting gate:
$130,000 OSS Gold Series Final – 3CP – August 9
1. Rescue Plan
2. OK Boromir
3. Stonebridge Terror
4. Ideal Race
5. Shipps Xpectancy
6. Barn Art
7. Fast Pay
8. Primary Purpose
9. Lyons Horace
10. Shady Cam
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.