Multiple records were set by three-year-old trotting colt Daylon Magician and two-year-old pacer Warrawee Needy when the Ontario Sires Stakes program moved to Flamboro Downs on Sunday night
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Sophomore trotting colts and geldings converged on the half-mile track for their third Gold Series event of the season, requiring two $40,000 eliminations.
The speedy Daylon Magician equaled the track and Canadian record for colts, held by Majestic Son, with his 1:55 winning effort. The time of the mile was just three-fifths of a second off the overall male record, held by gelding Define The World.
Driver Jack Moiseyev sent David Lemon's homebred son of Kadabra-Daylon Marvel first over from third after the :28.1 opening quarter and settled on top ahead of Imperial Count (Scott Zeron) at the half in :57.1. He then led the single file field past three-quarters in 1:26.1 and opened up a three length lead down the lane with a :28.4 final frame to secure the victory. Imperial Count stayed for second with Delcrest Julian (Paul MacDonell) finishing third.
Now six-for-eight this season with over $240,000 earned, Daylon Magician boasts wins in the May 30 Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack, the Goodtimes Consolation and the Canadian Breeders Championship. He paid $2.70 to win as the bettor's choice.
Undercover Strike and driver Luc Ouellette went wire-to-wire, carving out fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:25.4 along the way, to win the other elimination in a career-best 1:55.1 by five and three-quarter lengths. Favourite Tamarind (Jody Jamieson) finished second over pocket-sitter Mr Joe Sixpack (Scott Zeron).
Bill Companion trains the son of Striking Sahbra-Under The Pines, a winner of two races in nine starts and $42,850 so far this year, for the Common Sense Stable of Rockwood, Ont., Kor Stable Limited of Guelph, Ont., and Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, Alta. Undercover Strike paid $14 for the 6-1 upset.
Heading into their third Gold Series event of the season as well, the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings required three $40,000 eliminations.
Warrawee Needy set the bar high with his 1:53.3 winning effort in the first freshmen elimination, which lowered the stakes and track record. The time of the mile lowered Sir Luck and Nebupanezzar's record for two-year-old male pacers by one-fifth of a second.
Rebounding from his only career loss, a third place finish in the Battle Of Waterloo, Warrawee Needy sat third through early fractions of :27.1 and :57.1 before Jody Jamieson sent the son of E Dees Cam-Great Memories to the top. He opened up a four length lead on the field by the next marker of 1:25.2 and continued to pour it on down the stretch, hitting the wire with a nine length margin of victory. Longshot Fenian Hanover (Jack Moiseyev) came in second with third place finisher Aslan (Paul MacKenzie) 19 lengths in arrears.
Trainer Carl Jamieson co-owns the career winner of $251,000, who swept the first two Gold Series events, with Thomas Kyron of Toronto, Ont., Dr. Michael Wilson of Rockwood, Ont., and Floyd Marshall of Jarvis, Ont. He paid $2.10 to win as the heavy favourite.
Bob McIntosh trainee I Found My Beach and driver Randy Waples upset Battle Of Waterloo champion Machapelo (Scott Zeron), who carved out fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.2, in the next elimination and missed Warrawee Needy's record by one-fifth of a second. I Found My Beach rallied three-wide off cover and wore down the pacesetter to score by half a length. Longshot Addwater (J.R. Plante) finished over 10 lengths behind in third.
The son of Mach Three-Ohio Annie, now two-for-three in his young career, is owned by the Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of Windsor, Ont. and Robert Kauffman of New Albany, Ohio. He paid $8 as the 3-1 third choice.
Moving up to the Gold level, Hard To Mach claimed the final elimination, winning by seven and a half lengths in 1:55 for driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Maurice Goldschmidt.
Orse Power (Jack Moiseyev) and favourite Czar Seelster (Jody Jamieson) took turns on the front during a :28 opening quarter before MacDonald sent Hard To Mach to the top. The son of Mach Three-Angel In Disguise cleared the lead during the second interval but gave way to Rocky Regal (Jason Brewer), who powered up from fifth and hit the half in :56.2. MacDonald sent his charge back out for the retake and after hitting three-quarters in 1:25, he took off from the field for the open length triumph. Winbak Warrior (James MacDonald) finished second and Noble Andrew (Chris Christoforou) recovered from an early break to get third.
Hard To Mach is now two-for-three in his career with $34,500 earned for owners Lindsey and Connie Rankin of Lexington, Michigan. He paid $6.80 to win as the 2-1 second choice.
Here is a look at the field for next Sunday's $130,000 Gold Finals:
Three-Year-Old Colt Trot
1. Daylon Magician
2. Mr Joe Sixpack
3. Lakefield
4. Undercover Strike
5. Delcrest Julian
6. Imperial Count
7. Sim Brown
8. Tamarind
AE1. Incredable Frank
AE2. Calipari
Two-Year-Old Colt Pace
1. Noble Andrew
2. Addwater
3. Machapelo
4. I Found My Beach
5. Hard To Mach
6. Winbak Warrior
7. Aslan
8. Warrawee Needy
9. Fenian Hanover
AE1. Jigger And Abit
AE2. Caddy Jeff
AE3. Rocky Regal
For results from Sunday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.