Pass Line paced the fastest mile by a two-year-old in the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) as the province's top freshmen were in action on Saturday, Sept. 2 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
A single $199,900 OSS Gold division was carded for the two-year-old pacing fillies. The field of 11 was a part of history.
Pass Line was positioned midpack early by Yannick Gingras as Wicked Leader (Trevor Henry) and Resilience (Louis-Philippe Roy) took early turns on top through sharp :26.1 and :54.1 fractions. At the half, Pass Line got her cue to advance and attack. Pass Line and Resilience were on near even terms through a 1:22.2 third station, but not for long. As the field straightened, Pass Line took off and separated from her opponents. A :27.1 closing quarter provided a 1:49.3 mile, matching the mark of Lyons Sentinel from 2019 and establishing a new record for the Ontario Sires Stakes program. That mile time equals the mark of Stockade Seelster, set in OSS action one year ago (Sept. 3, 2022).
Its A Love Thing (James MacDonald) and Odds On Platinum (Sylvain Filion) were next best.
"On paper she looked really good," said Gingras after the sizzling performance in his first drive behind Pass Line. "Ronnie [Burke] has talked to me a few times about her and how he liked her and they thought she was a real nice filly. He sure was right."
Trained in Canada by Dave Menary, Pass Line (All Bets Off - Breakheart Pass) is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, Pa., Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, Pa. and Frank Baldachino of Harvey Cedars, N.J. The win provides a 6-1-1 summary from eight appearances with $267,202 in earnings.
Male pacers Mirage Hanover and Funtime Bayama delivered as expected in their respective OSS Gold divisions.
Senf off as the 1-2 choice in the $102,200 division, Mirage Hanover landed in third early for driver Bob McClure and then made his move to the top down the backside. A :55.3 half was followed by a 1:24 third station, giving Mirage Hanover plenty left to repel a spirited late bid from Nijinsky (Roy) to prevail by a half length in 1:51.2. Storm Shadow (Sylvain Filion) finished third.
"When he's favoured like like you kind of have to race him like that," said trainer Scott McEneny about the colt's front-end requests. "It would be nice to get a nice trip and have some cover. But, you know, he's doing it and getting it done. He's going to miss next week and get ready for the Metro."
Mirage Hanover (Bettors Delight - Mayhem Seelster) has now won four of seven starts and earned $206,560 for owner Marvin Rounick.
A $2 win ticket on Mirage Hanover returned $3.
Funtime Bayama lowered his Canadian record for two-year-old pacing geldings with a lifetime best 1:50.1 effort in his $103,100 OSS division. He lowered the 1:50.3 mark he set a week ago with his third straight victory on Saturday night, besting Chain Gang (MacDonald) by nearly two lengths with the rest of his rivals double digits in arrears.
"You know what I like about that horse?" breeder, owner and Hall of Famer Yves Filion asked John Rallis rhetorically, "Every week he gets half of a second faster. He improves every week, so that's a good sign."
While Mirage Hanover will be pointed for the Metro, Funtime Bayama doesn't have that engagement on his dance card.
"I was planning just to do the Golds, and that's what I'm going to do because I want to turn him out fresh and not tired."
Funtime Bayama (Hes Watching - Tymal Sugrbabydoll) sports a 3-2-0 summary from five starts with $163,130 in earnings.
To view the results from the Saturday card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.