Those fabulous freshmen battled in a quartet of OSS Gold Series divisions, each worth a cool $52,500.
Falcon Justice turned on the afterburners in the lane to win the opening division 1:53.2, in what was one of the best stretch drives of the summer at the Campbellville oval. The colts fanned out across the track in the closing strides, and seven of them finished within two lengths of one another. On The Big Swing and race favourite P L Hellcat took turns on the lead through fractions of :26.4, :56 and 1:25.3, but they both went home empty handed. MacDonell, who was still sitting seventh at three-quarter pole with Falcon Justice, cut his charge loose and the gelding responded with a :26.3 closing panel en route to posting the win by three-quarters of a length over Weatherly. Cabs R Here was third.
Sent off at odds of 5-1, the son of Mister Big-Jett Diamond notched the second win of his career for trainer Jeff Boyd of Cambridge and partner Dan Christiano Cox of Toronto, ON. The gelding, who won his debut in 1:53.1 on June 20, has now stashed away $51,750 in earnings. He was purchased for a mere $7,500 from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. He’s a brother to a trio $100,000 winners including Jett Away (1:51.4 - $180,523).
First-year sire Mister Big celebrated with a win in the second division, as well, thanks to the driving away score for Crafty Master and driver Doug McNair. The colt, who is out of the mare Cam Odie, brushed to the lead past the quarter pole and simply drew away to the win by 4-1/2 lengths over Titus Seelster in 1:54 over a track rated ‘sloppy’ with a one-second allowance. Third prize went to Reasonable Force.
Gregg McNair trains the colt, who was sent off as the 6-5 favourite, for owner Bob Hamather of Exeter, ON. The rookie is now 2-for-2 to starts his career for owner Bob Hamather of Exeter, ON. He’s banked $33,750 in the process.
Twin B Spy made his pari-mutuel debut a winning one thanks to his 1:53.3 victory in the third division. Scott Zeron hustled the colt into the two-hole behind race favourite Cluster Hanover, who sliced out splits of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.3 before confronted by his pocket-sitting foe. Zeron milked some serious pace from the colt in the closing quarter, and it helped him drive clear from runner-up Cluster Hanover by 3-3/4 lengths. Arrived Late finished third.
Casie Coleman trains the Shadow Play-Southwind Sugar colt for herself and the rest of the partners involved in West Wins Stable of Cambridge. Mac Nichol of Burlington and Adriano Sorella of Milton, ON also own a share of the colt, who was acquired for $50,000 from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. His share of Monday’s loot put his bankroll at $26,250.
Three Of Clubs, who was a $25,000 purchase from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale, was a convincing winner in the final division for Team McNair. The son of Mach Three-CC Kloe rolled to the lead and successfully doled out panels of :28.3, :57.2 and 1:26 before kicking home in :28.1 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Shadowbriand in 1:54.1. Steady Warrior was out a long way, but he still managed to finish third.
Trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph owns the pacer with Tony Lawrence of Hanover and Shady Hill Racing Stable of Durham, ON. The partners watched the youngster improve his rookie record to 1-0-1 from just two trips to the track. He’s no banked just over $28,000 from two trips to the track.