Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings put on quite the show producing upsets and records on Saturday afternoon at Flamboro Downs in a pair of $40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations
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Delcrest Julian and driver Anthony MacDonald kicked off the OSS action with a 31-1 upset in their elimination. The Oaklea Julian-Stars Balance colt advanced to the lead from third and hit the opening mark in :29.1. He then carved out middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.3 with 8-5 favourite Sim Brown (Randy Waples) advancing first over.
As the field raced towards the final turn, Sim Brown made a break as did the pocket-sitting Imperial Count (Steve Condren) leaving Delcrest Julian in the clear for the maiden-breaking 1:58.3 victory. His nearest rival, Attorney Hanover (Paul MacDonell), finished eight an half lengths behind. Bruce The Brave (Keith Oliver), the 55-1 longshot, finished third. The trailing 39-1 Over And Out (Rick Zeron) rallied to secure the last spot in the final.
Delcrest Julian returned $64.50 to his backers for a $2 win ticket. MacDonald’s brother James trains the $7,500 Canadian Open yearling for owner Terry Hunter of Troy, Ont. Delcrest Julian's first win in nine starts boosted his bankroll to $42,000.
Sent postward as the longest shot on the board at 44-1 in the second elimination, Daylon Magician pulled off the upset and did it in record fashion.
Driver Jack Moiseyev fired the Kadabra-Daylon Marvel colt three-wide from Post 8 to secure the lead at the :28.1 first quarter. Daylon Magician hit the next marker in :58.3 with Calipari (Peter Wallinder) moving underway from third. Calipari applied pressure past the 1:28.3 third quarter mark, but Daylon Magician found another gear and kicked home to score in 1:57.4 by one and three-quarter lengths. The time of the mile set a new stakes, track and Canadian record for two-year-old trotting colts.
Prior to Saturday's card, the OSS record for trotting freshmen on a half-mile track of 1:58.3 was held by the late Pointe To Pointe. Australian Stock was the former track record holder with his 1:59.3 mark and Sin To Win held the old 1:59 Canadian mark.
Favourite Buckhams Bay (Jacques Hebert) edged out Max Money (Trevor Ritchie) for second with Calipari finishing fourth.
Daylon Magician paid $90.50 for the upset. Owned, bred and trained by Komoka’s David Lemon, the colt earned his second win in five Ontario Sires Stakes outings and pushed his bankroll to $42,800. His other win came in Grassroots action at Hiawatha Horse Park on July 15 while making his career debut.
Here is a look at the field for next Saturday’s $130,000 OSS Gold Final:
1. Max Money
2. Buckhams Bay
3. Calipari
4. Daylon Magician
5. Over And Out
6. Bruce The Brave
7. Attorney Hanover
8. Delcrest Julian
AE1. Holy Kadabra
AE2. Winford Hanover
AE3. Bob From Brussels
To view Saturday's results, click here.