WINDSOR, ON — Windsor Raceway presents another exceptional program of Ontario Sires Stakes action this Sunday with $130,000 Gold Finals for the three-year-old trotting fillies and the three-year-old pacing colts.
The marquee division of the provincial program, the three-year-old pacing colts electrified Windsor and area fans last week when they roared around the five-eighths mile oval to a new Ontario Sires Stakes record. Dreamfair Vogel led the colts on their 1:51.3 record-setting tour and is well-positioned for a third straight victory from Post 5 in Sunday’s twelfth race.
Randy Waples has been in the race bike behind Dreamfair Vogel since he moved to the Bill Robinson barn in early September and the colt’s owner-breeders, John and Mary Lamers of Ingersoll, are hoping he is there again Sunday. Waples also qualified Robinson trainee Pacific Titan for the Final and will have the opportunity to select his mount for the $130,000 contest.
“We like Randy driving. I don’t know if that’s the reason Vogel’s done so well or not, but I personally think it is,” says Mary Lamers, adding that Waples’ position as the primary Ontario-based driver for the Robinson operation played a significant role in the colt’s move to Hagersville. “He did really well with Vogel last year.”
Waples piloted Dreamfair Vogel to victory in the $200,000 Battle Of Waterloo at Elmira Raceway as a two-year-old, as well as a Gold Final at Flamboro Downs, but has been tied up driving Robinson’s horses this season. The Milton resident’s return to the race bike on Sept. 14 saw Dreamfair Vogel set a track record at Mohawk Racetrack with an outstanding 1:49.4 effort, the highlight of a season that had been long on possibilities and short on results.
Last week’s elimination win was Dreamfair Vogel’s third of the year and the effortless front end victory was enough to cause the Lamers family to start dreaming again.
“We were really, really pleased with his race last week,” says Mary Lamers. “But I don’t get as excited as John does and I don’t have as far to fall. We’ll see what he does on Sunday.”
Dreamfair Vogel faces an impressive line up of colts in Race 12, including the other elimination winner Luckyisasluckydoes from Post 2 and local favourites Indicator, owned by W J J Stable, from Post 7, The Cammissioner, co-owned by trainer Bob McIntosh, from Post 8 and Corona Grande, co-owned by trainer Jack Darling, from Post 9.
Indicator is making his first-ever start in a Gold Final after finishing a credible fourth to Dreamfair Vogel in his provincial debut. The Bo Knows Jate son is owned by breeders Todd and Alan Janik of Windsor, who will be front and centre at their local racetrack on Sunday.
“Dad’s 80-years-old and he still goes to the track and watches every race,” says Alan Janik. “Indicator is the third foal out of a mare we purchased at a sale eight or nine years ago (Armbro Magnetic) and his half brother, Cutterpath, has about $400,000 on his card and his half-sister, El Nina, is racing at Windsor in the Fillies and Mares Open.”
John Drennan trains Indicator and Rick Zeron will make the return trip to Windsor to drive the youngster, and Janik says Post 7 should not hinder the duo given Indicator’s preference for racing from off the pace.
“He can’t leave the gate too well, but he can come home like wild fire,” says the long time Standardbred owner. “And he gets along really well with Rick Zeron, they fit like a glove.”
Like Indicator, three-year-old trotting filly Pepi Lavec is not expected to find Post 8 a hindrance in her quest for a second straight victory. The division leader has only finished out of the top three on four occasions this season and set a track and OSS record from Post 8 in the Aug. 17 Gold Final at Hiawatha Horse Park.
Peterborough’s John Bax trains the Mr Lavec daughter for his partner Glengate Farms of Campbellville and Paul MacDonell will be in his regular spot in the race bike for Sunday’s tenth race. Bax also sends out Natashas Kiss from Post 2 for Al Libfeld of Pickering and Sam Goldband and Marvin Katz of Toronto.
Last week’s runner-up, Corinas Mission, will start from Post 5 and driver Dan Clements would love to see the Mr Lavec filly earn her first win of the season in Sunday’s Gold Final. The Uxbridge resident, who also trained the filly up until the Aug. 17 Gold Final, has been riding a roller coaster of expectation and exasperation with Corinas Mission this season, waiting for her on track performance to reflect her real ability.
In 14 starts Corinas Mission, who is owned by Prince Lee Acres of Stouffville and trained by Mark Haas, has recorded three seconds and four fourths for $116,906 in earnings. She currently sits in seventh spot in the division standings with 67 points.
Windsor Raceway raises the curtain on an exciting Sunday evening of racing at 6:30 pm and the three-year-old trotting fillies will compete for their $130,000 Gold Final purse in the tenth race, while the three-year-old pacing colts bring the fans to their feet in Race 12.