Il Mago established a new track record for three-year-old
trotting colts with an impressive under-wraps performance in the $130,000 OSS
final. Trevor Ritchie and the son of Kadabra left from the rail and never gave
up that advantageous position through fractions of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:27.2.
By the third panel he had company in the form of
favourite Cold Certified but he was able to trot away from that rival to reach
the wire easily in 1:56.3. Cold Certified was second followed by Keystone
Orion.
“Obviously drawing the rail was key and he got out of
there good, behaved himself around the first turn. Once everyone got tucked
away and I got a bit of a breather I was pretty happy with his performance,”
said Ritchie.
A winner of his elimination last week, Il Mago is now a
perfect two for two this year for trainer Rod Boyd and owners Chris Alexander
Stables of Aurora and Mark Harder of New Jersey. A winner of $170,710 last year
at two, the colt now sports earnings of $255,710.
The first City Of London final was the $53,800 race for
male trotters which saw favourite Hey AJ and Trevor Henry lead the way through
fractions of :29, 1:00.1 and 1:31.3. However he could not hold off a late
charging P C Firecracker who benefitted from a crafty first up steer by Curtis
Clements to win in 2:00.2. Hey AJ was right there for second followed by R Baby
Q.
It was the seventh win in eight lifetime starts and a new
life mark for P C Firecracker a three-year-old gelding by Amigo Hall co-owned
by breeder and trainer Peter Clements and Amy Clements of Dobbinton, Ontario.
In the $57,400 City of London final for filly and mare
trotters Daylon Miracle managed to keep her unbeaten record intact but she
worked hard to do so. Leaving from post six Dave Wall fired Daylon Miracle
towards the top but she couldn’t get by Cynthia Loo. That pair were neck and
neck to the opening quarter in :27.4 before Wall tucked Daylon Miracle into the
garden spot.
Cynthia Loo, under pressure throughout, hit the half in
:58.3 and the three-quarters in 1:28.1. Around the final turn Wall had Daylon
Miracle three wide and she hauled down her rivals to win in 1:59.1. In a close
battle for second Cynthia Loo prevailed over Real Housewife.
A half-sister to millionaire Daylon Magician, the winner
is a three-year-old Pegasus Spur daughter owned by breeders Dave and Mary Lemon
of Daylon Farms. Dave trains the talented miss who is a perfect five for five
in her young career with $44,100 banked to date. Wall was honoured just prior
to the race with a presentation to acknowledge his induction into the Canadian
Horse Racing Hall of Fame later this summer.
In an exciting finish in the $58,200 filly and mare pace
City of London final it was Sonic Breeze who prevailed in 1:55.3. As the gate left Robert Shepherd and Phoenix
Seelster left a ton from post seven to grab the front which they didn’t
relinquish through fractions of :27 and :56.2. By the 1:25.1 three-quarter she
was passed by Albanian Era who’d been slowly making up progress on the outside.
As the distaffers turned for home Sonic Breeze, who’d
enjoyed a second over trip for Mark Williams, flew home to hit the wire first
over Albanian Era and Regal Princess. It proved a series sweep for Sonic Breeze
who had captured the two preliminary legs as well. The four-year-old daughter
of Mach Three is trained by Bill Kirkpatrick for owner Pamela Loomis of
Michigan. Tonight’s effort was a new life mark for the mare who was unraced
until this year.
There was some confusion at the start of the $62,200 City
of London final for male pacers with breaking horses causing some scattering of
the field in the first turn. Modern Xhibit was first to the front and carved
splits of :27.3 and :57.1 before giving up his position to Carsons Cracker and Doug
McNair by the 1:25.2 three-quarters.
Down the stretch his stablemate from the Gregg McNair
barn, Special Session with Yannick Gingras up, tried to get past but Carsons
Cracker was strong to the wire, winning in 1:54. Special Session took second
while Modern Xhibit held for third.
A three-year-old gelding by 2008 Molson Pace winner Eagle
Luck, Carsons Cracker improved his summary to 3-2-0 in five starts this year
for owner/breeder David Carson of Listowel, Ontario.
