Striking Lindsey overcame the outside Post 10 to capture the $120,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Woodbine Racetrack - the last Gold event of the season in this division.
Jody Jamieson piloted the son of Striking Sahbra - Lindsey Fireyimage for trainer Gregg McNair and got him away in mid-pack through the first quarter of :28 seconds. Pointe Of Honour (Paul MacDonell) had grabbed control after a first-quarter tussle and took the field past the opening half in :57.4.
As the field raced towards the far turn, Kingsbury (Trevor Ritchie) swung to the outside to challenge after aborting an earlier leaving move. He gave Striking Lindsey the cover he needed and towed that one to within two lengths of the lead as the field trotted past three-quarters in 1:28.1
At the top of the stretch, Kingsbury began to tire, giving pocket-sitter Senator Hall (Doug Ackerman) room to come to the outside. At the same time, Jamieson rolled Striking Lindsey three wide to join the top pair. The top trio all stayed game over the final quarter with Striking Lindsey reaching up in the final strides for the measured victory.
Senator Hall just edged out Pointe Of Honour for the place spot.
It was the third win in 12 tries this season for Striking Lindsey who had won his elimination the previous week in 1:58.3. The lion's share of the purse increased his seasonal bankroll to just over $190,000 for owner Kenneth Sommer of Sheffield, Ohio.
In an unfortunate side note, Sommer hit a deer with his car on the drive up from Ohio to watch his horse race and did substantial damage to his vehicle.
On the brighter side, Striking Lindsey, who entered the night sitting eighth in the OSS point standings, solidified his spot in the $300,000 OSS Super Final next Saturday night at Woodbine.
In the $20,000 OSS Gold Consolation, Winning Mister and driver Randy Waples rallied from off to pace to win in 1:57.4 for trainer Keith Klages and owner Robert Key of Leechburg, Pennsylvania.
As the gate swung open, Hitithard (Mark MacDonald) did just that, but V Star (Jody Jamieson) cleared the lead at the first quarter pole in :28.3. As Winning Mister settled in fifth, Aloft (Luc Ouellette) rolled out from third and took command of the field at the half in :58.2.
In the third quarter, Hitithard moved first-up with Kilted Pride (Sylvain Filion) catching his cover and Winning Mister following suit. As the field turned for home, Winning Mister powered home in :28.1 to beat Hitithard by a neck. Kilted Pride was third.
The son of Angus Hall improved his record to 4-2-1 in 14 starts and lifted his bankroll to $120,650
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(With files from WEG)