Flamboro Downs celebrates the Ontario Sires Stakes program on Sunday with two $105,000 Gold Series divisions for the exciting two-year-old trotting fillies and the 'Be A Winner' contest, which puts one lucky fan in the OSS winner’s circle.
Leading up to Race 4 fans can place their ballots in a box representing the horse they believe will win the second Gold division. One semi-finalist will be selected to represent each horse and will receive an OSS golf shirt, ball cap and a $10 win voucher on their chosen horse. With their semi-finalists cheering them on, the two-year-old trotting fillies will battle in Race 7 and the semi-finalist who selected the winner will join the victorious filly and her connections in the winner’s circle. The successful “Be A Winner” contestant will have their photo taken with the Gold Series winner, receive a commemorative photograph, a trophy and $50 wagering voucher.
In addition to the “Be A Winner” fun, fans arriving early for the festivities will receive an Ontario Sires Stakes t-shirt with their program purchase, while those who prefer a ball cap should keep their eyes peeled trackside throughout the evening.
On the track, trainer Jack Darling is hoping Devils Advocate can find her way back to the winner’s circle in the first division on Sunday. After scoring a win in the July 23 Gold Leg at Mohawk Racetrack and finishing second in all three of her other Gold Series outings, the filly made miscues at the start of both her Peaceful Way Elimination and Champlain Stakes division earlier this month. As a result Darling and driver Ron Waples opted to add trotting hopples to the filly’s equipment bag for Sunday’s test.
“She’s just a very excitable filly, and she kind of got the running in her head so we put the hopples on and she’s settled right down, so hopefully she’ll be fine,” said the Cambridge, ON resident, who also owns the daughter of Manofmanymissions-Malabar Memories. “Ron Waples, he does her every day, and he said when he put the hopples on it helped her relax.”
Hall of Fame reinsman Waples piloted Devils Advocate to a solid 2:01.1 qualifying win at Flamboro on Sept. 17, and she has also taken a few extra spins behind the starting gate in an effort to erase the memory of her miscues.
“We schooled her behind the gate a little bit, but once we put the hopples on that seemed to do the trick,” noted Darling. “Flamboro will tell the tale, how she behaves there, and if she behaves there hopefully we’re in good shape for the rest of the season.”
If she minds her manners in Race 3 on Sunday, Devils Advocate will be headed to the $250,000 Super Final at Woodbine Racetrack on Oct. 10. She currently sits third in the two-year-old trotting filly division standings with 125 points. The filly is also eligible to the Breeders Crown at Woodbine, with eliminations on Oct. 16 and the final on Oct. 24.
“I really believe she can go with those top fillies so it would be nice to have a chance to find out, but we’re just going a week at a time,” said a cautious Darling.
“I’d like to be in with those top ones and be sitting close. I think she’d make a good account of herself in the stretch,” he added.
On Sunday, Guelph, ON resident Waples will steer Devils Advocate from Post 4 in the first Gold division, taking on a field of eight, including Champlain division and Peaceful Way Elimination winner Could It Be Magic who will start from Post 8.
The second division features six Gold Series veterans and two newcomers to the Ontario Sires Stakes program. Muscle Mass daughter Dottie makes her debut from Post 5 for trainer Jerry Duford of Campbellville, ON and his partners Joanne Wray of Campbellville and Lloyd and Barbara Tylee of Grimsby, ON.
Ulittleripper debuts from Post 6 for trainer Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh, ON and his partners Mac Nichol of Burlington, ON and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, NY.
Flamboro Downs’ Sunday program gets under way at 6 p.m., with the two-year-old trotting fillies featured in Races 3 and 7. The draw for the “Be A Winner” semi-finalists will take place following the fourth race.
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To view entries for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Flamboro Downs.