Woodbine Racetrack hosted a second set of Fall Four Stake eliminations for two-year-olds on Saturday night with a trio of splits in the Governor's Cup for colt pacers and two eliminations for the Valley Victory for colt trotters.
Nebupanezzar, Art Colony and Dial Or Nodial all emerged victorious in their respective Governor's Cup tilts, with Art Colony turning in the fastest clocking - a 1:51 clocking in the second of the three contests.
Art Colony, a son of Artsplace - Onthe Beach, remains undefeated in four career starts for trainer Casie Coleman and owner Tom Hill of Lancashire, Great Britain. Randy Waples was in the driver's seat for the victory, which boosted his seasonal earnings to just over $37,000.
Nebupanezzar overcame the outside Post 8 to take the opening elimination for Steve Condren in 1:52. The son of No Pan Intended - Western Wonder improved his record to seven wins in 10 starts for trainer Bob McIntosh and owners Peter Pan Stables of Pepper Pike, Ohio. His earnings sit as just under $500,000.
In the final split, Brian Sears guided Dial Or Nodial to a sharp 1:52 victory from Post 7. It was the eighth win in just nine seasonal outings for the son of Western Ideal - Smart Dialing and boosted his bankroll to just over $278,000 for trainer Jim Campbell and owners Arlene and Jules Siegel of New Hope, Pennsylvania.
The top three finishers from each elimination plus one fourth-place finisher drawn by lot advanced to the $820,000 Governor's Cup Final, which goes next Saturday night at Woodbine.
The lucky horse who drew in by lot was Ahead Of The Curve. Here is a look at the entire field in post position order:
1. Hypnotic Blue Chip
2. Dial Or Nodial
3. Nebupanezzar
4. Art Colony
5. Mclaren
6. Amazon Art
7. Ahead Of The Curve
8. Major In Art
9. Well Said
10. If I Can Dream
Judge Joe and Encore Encore were each winners in Saturday's Valley Victory eliminations.
Judge Joe converted from a perfect pocket trip to take the opening split for Doug Ackerman in 1:57.1. The rookie son of Credit Winner - Judge Judy notched his sixth win 10 starts this season for Ackerman, who also trains and owns. The win improved his seasonal earnings to just over $226,000.
In the second split, Tim Tetrick sent Encore Encore three-wide to the front in the second quarter and then held off a determined late rally from Federal Flex (Jody Jamieson) to prevail in 1:56.1. It was the seventh win in 12 starts this season for the son of Broadway Hall - Keys La Nina and increased his earnings to just over $226,000 for trainer Richard Gillock and owner Robert Key of Leechburg, Pennsylvania.
The top five finishers in each elimination made it through to the $718,000 Valley Victory Final next Saturday at Woodbine. Here is the field in post position order:
1. Syrinxian
2. Judge Joe
3. Encore Encore
4. Select Yankee
5. Triumphant Caviar
6. Striking Lindsey
7. Federal Flex
8. Hurrikanebiggeorge
9. Meyer Winsky
10. Cantabs Pride
To view Saturday's results, click here
(With files from WEG)