Twenty-one trotting colts and geldings from this year’s freshman class invaded Flamboro Downs on Tuesday evening as Canada’s fastest half-mile oval hosted a trio of $70,000 OSS Gold Series divisions.
Dont Rush captured the opening division in 2:00.3 for driver Chris Christoforou, who rallied the odds-on favourite to the last-second score. The son of Infinitif-Color Me Pretty got away slowly and watched Boli supply the field with first-half fractions of :30.3 and 1:02.1. Luck O The Irish took over command in the late stages of the mile and fronted the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:31.2. Dont Rush came on strong in the lane and his :28.4 closing quarter earned him the win by a head over Luck O The Irish. Amityville Lindy was third.
The Dustin Jones trainee is owned by Dustin Jones Stables Inc of Waterdown and Greg Judson of Athens, Ontario. The victory improved his 2014 record to 2-3-1 from nine trips to the track and the $35,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $136,985.
The second division was a break-fest as six of the seven starters rolled off stride at some point in the mile. Despite his early miscue, Platoon Seelster recovered and rallied to a 1:59.4 triumph for Team Holliday. Driven by Ryan Holliday for trainer Dave Holliday, the son of Federal Flex-Personal Hanover made a three-wide move at the three-quarter pole and trotted a final quarter in :30.2 en route to posting the half-length win over A Little More Love. Namesmuscle, the only trotter that didn’t miscue in the mile, was third.
Caroline Holliday of Mount Forest and Dennis Hannath of Harriston, Ontario share ownership on the lightly-raced rookie who boasts a 2-2-0 record from his first four assignments.
Caulfield gave Chris Christoforou his second OSS victory on the card thanks to his 1:59.3 victory in the third division. The Chris Beaver pupil turned a ground-saving trip into his fourth win of the season from six trips to the track. He defeated tempo-setting Wilbur Eden and Winning Wizard.
Sent off as the 7-5 favourite, Caulfield pushed his lifetime earnings to $86,170 for Synerco Ventures Inc of Toronto, Ontario. The triumph extended his winning streak to three-in-a-row.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Flamboro Downs.