DUNDAS, ON — Local favourites Luc Ouellette and Daylon Boy delivered a victory in their 2004 Ontario Sires Stakes debut on Sunday evening at Flamboro Downs, capturing the third of four Gold Series Eliminations in a sharp 1:54.3.
The Dexter Nukes son, owned by trainer Mario Macri of Oakville, Eric Udrzal of Mississauga and Carmine Cesta of Toronto, led the field of three-year-old pacing colts through fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25.2 and outlasted runner-up Pokagon at the wire to score the 1:54.3 victory by a nose. Groovie Day, trained by Carlisle resident Bill Budd, rounded out the top three.
A winner of $82,6778 in the Ontario Sires Stakes program as a two-year-old, Daylon Boy added $16,357 to his bankroll with the victory. The win was the colt’s first of the season in just his second start and establishes him as one of the early contenders in the lucrative provincial program, worth more than $20 million for the second straight year.
Also logging an impressive front-end victory was Swingman, who captured the first elimination with a 1:55.2 effort over Up Front Rustler and favourite Sauble Jackson. Roger Mayotte piloted Northern Luck son Swingman to the victory, his second straight and third of the season, for trainer Bob Young of Guelph and owner Golfman Stables of Ottawa.
Swingman has just seven starts to his credit, but has already appeared in the winner’s circle five times and finished third in another for earnings of $40,867.
The second Elimination went to OSS veteran Cozy Xample, who delivered an impressive effort up the outside to reel in pacesetters Rocketboy and In High Gear. In High Gear hung on for second, but Rocketboy was nosed out of third-place by Armbro Brando. Favourite Flashy Baron made an early break from Post 2 and was never a factor in the 1:55 mile.
Campbellville resident Joe Stutzman trains Cozy Xample for owner and breeder Robert Hamather of Exeter and Chris Christoforou piloted the son of Camluck and So Cozy to the victory.
Galantine Hanover earned the victor’s spoils in the last elimination when favourite Kicks N Grins was placed from first to seventh for causing interference. Also benefiting from the favourite’s error were runner-ups D M Sundance and Armbro Blacktie.
Chris Christoforou piloted Galantine Hanover to the victory for trainer Brett Robinson and owners Sampson Street Stables of Old Forge, PA, Deena Rachel Frost of Delray Beach, FL, Jerry Silva of Bellmore, NY and Mathias Meinzinger of Upper Brockville, NY. The win maintained the Grinfromeartoear son’s flawless record of three victories in three starts this season.
The top two colts from each elimination will return to Flamboro Downs next Sunday, May 16 for the first $130,000 Gold Final of the season.