Georgian Gets Ready For Gold Rush
Ontario-sired pacers and trotters filled up Georgian Downs’ Saturday program in preparation for next weekend’s Gold Rush, which will feature over $1 million in purses. Eliminations for the four Ontario Sires Stakes Gold finals and Masters Stakes finals headlined the afternoon’s harness racing card.
Two sophomore track records fell as Village Janus and Watermelonwine turned in a pair of sizzling performances in their respective OSS eliminations while older pacer Mach Dreamer lowered another record in the Master Stakes eliminations.
Recaps of all the OSS and Master Stakes elimination action are available below.
Three-Year-Old Colt Trot Eliminations
David Lemon’s reigning Gold champion Daylon Magician kicked off the action on Saturday with a victory in the only $40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold elimination for three-year-old trotting colts.
Under the guidance of Jack Moiseyev, the homebred Kadabra-Daylon Marvel colt left from Post 7 and took command of the 11-horse field after the :27.2 opening quarter. After reaching the next marker in :56.3, Delcrest Julian (Rick Zeron) rolled up from fourth to challenge the leader, but subsequently broke stride leaving Daylon Magician clear at three-quarters in 1:25.1. The Goodtimes Consolation champion could not be caught as he trotted home in :28.4 for the 1:54 victory, just missing B Strike Three’s track record by one-fifth of a second. Pocket-sitter Lakefield (Jason Brewer) finished second and Undercover Strike (Roger Mayotte) came on for third.
Daylon Magician, last year’s OSS Super Final winner, is now four-for-five in his sophomore campaign with $131,500 banked. His career bankroll climbed to $356,800 with the victory. He paid $3.40 to win as the popular choice.
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace Eliminations
Last year’s OSS Super Final champion Modern Connection earned her first victory of the season while making her fifth start in the first of two three-year-old filly pace eliminations.
With Jody Jamieson in the bike for trainer David Menary, the daughter of Modern Art-Cambest Connection made her move after the :26.4 opening quarter, advancing from third and clearing past the half in :55.4. She then opened up a few lengths on the field as she paced past three-quarters in 1:23.1 and cruised to victory in a career-best 1:52. Shipps Xanadu (Rick Zeron) finished three lengths behind in second and Camille (Jason Brewer) was third.
Yousif Yousif of Chesterfield and Ameer Najor of Detroit, Michigan co-own the career winner of $482,297. She paid $2.10 to win as the heavy favourite.
Looking to earn her second straight Gold title of the season, Village Janus stormed home to capture her elimination in a 1:51.1 track record clocking.
Scott Zeron sent the Modern Art-Village Jest filly to the top from Post 3 during a :27.4 opening quarter, but gave way to Monkey On My Wheel (Rick Zeron) in front of the grandstand. Monkey On My Wheel came under attack from Look Cheap (Mrk MacDonald), who edged ahead past the half in :57.2, but that rival backed away leaving Monkey On My Wheel in control at three-quarters in 1:23.4. However, Village Janus was full of late pace and converted from the pocket to score the victory by a neck, establishing a new lifetime mark and lowering Tiz To Dream's track standard by one-fifth of a second. The time of the mile also equalled Michelles Power's stakes and Canadian record. Monkey On My Wheel settled for second while Athenas Legacy (Jody Jamieson) inherited third after a judge's placing. Look Cheap was third placed fourth for causing interference to that filly.
Village Janus is now four-for-four this year with $108,500 earned for trainer Rod Therres, who co-owns with Larry Schmidt of Abbotsford, B.C. Last year's Battle of Belles champion has banked $241,200 to date. She paid $7.70 to win as the 5-2 third choice.
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot Eliminations
Peach Martini went all the way to win the first of two eliminations for sophomore trotting fillies with trainer Rick Zeron in the bike.
The Striking Sahbra-Armbro Martini miss left from Post 2 and carved out fractions of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:27 en route to establishing a new lifetime mark of 1:56 flat. Reigning Gold champion and odds-on favourite Lukes Sophie (Jody Jamieson) recovered fr