Trotting colts and geldings were subjected to a wet racetrack on Sunday at Rideau Carleton Raceway, as the five-eighths mile oval hosted a trio of $40,000 OSS Gold Series eliminations for the two-year-old division
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Winning the first elimination was just like taking candy from a baby for Zorgwijk Kingpin, who brushed to the top at the quarter pole and front-stepped to a 1:58.2 tally for the team of driver Trevor Ritchie and trainer Ronnie MacLean. The chestnut son of Southwind Lustre-Zorgwijk Amarillis drew off to win by more than three lengths over Tampico, with Text Me rounding out the top three finishers.
MacLean shares ownership on the $3,700 Forest City Yearling Sale purchase with Murray Neilson and Joseph Serratore. The youngster now owns a 2-3-0 record in his first six attempts, and the $20,000 payday boosted his overall earnings to $106,116.
Things were just as easy for Reach Higher in the second elimination, as the son of Striking Sahbra-Raising The Bar drew off to win by more than four lengths for teamster Steve Condren and trainer John Kopas. The colt laid down panels of :29.3 and 1:01.3 before coming under attack from Duke Maccallum, who showed a short lead while parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:29.4. That colt rolled into a miscue in the stretch, and it allowed Reach Higher to rally to the 2:00.2 score. War King Ton was second and Pointe To Pointe was third.
It was the third victory in nine tries for Reach Higher, who is owned by the Estate Of George F Hempt Trust, KR Stable, Doug Millard and LLK Stable. The colt has now recovered $92,787 of his $140,000 Forest City Yearling Sale price tag.
The only non-favourite to win an elimination was Magic Fruit, who pulled off a mild 3-1 surprise over race favourite Grumpy Jake. The son of Kadabra-Anna Banana took the field to the quarter pole in :29.3 before releasing Grumpy Jake to the lead in front of the grandstand. The 4-5 choice rolled them through middle splits of 1:00.4 and 1:31.2, but he could not fend off a late rush from Magic Fruit and trainer/driver Per Henriksen who got up to win by the slimmest of margins in 2:01. Grumpy Jake was second best and Lucero grabbed the show dough.
Ernst Gerbaulet of Recklinghausen, GER holds the papers on the colt, who was impressive in the maiden-breaking performance. The youngster now sports a 1-1-3 record in nine tries in addition to a bankroll that stands at $100,063.
The top three finishers from each of the eliminations will return to Rideau Carleton Raceway next Sunday evening for the final. Here's how they'll line up on the starting gate:
$130,000 OSS Gold Series Final
1. Reach Higher
2. Grumpy Jake
3. Magic Fruit
4. Zorgwijk Kingpin
5. Lucero
6. Tampico
7. Text Me
8. Pointe To Pointe
9. War King Ton
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.