FRASERVILLE, ON — After being left out of the original draw for Tuesday’s two-year-old pacing colt Gold Final and sparking an Ontario Racing Commission appeal, Hombre proved he belonged in the $130,000 contest by posting an impressive 1:54.3 victory over Kawartha Downs’ five-eighths mile oval.

Reg Gassien gave the Astreos son an impeccable drive from Post 5, following the lightning fast Northern Cowboy off the gate and sticking tight to the pacesetter’s heels as he carved out fractions of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:24.4. As Gassien had anticipated, Northern Cowboy tired slightly around the last turn, and Hombre was in perfect position to take advantage.

On top by a quarter of a length as he turned for home, Hombre swept across the finish line four and a half lengths ahead of his peers, justifying trainer Gregory Durand and owner David Gage’s efforts in appealing the initial ruling that saw him draw also eligible status in the Final. Elimination winner Northern Cowboy, owned by Wilma and James Mackenzie of Peterborough, finished second and Bye Bye Grin was four more lengths back in third. Favourite Presidential Alert, owned by Sandra Smith of Newcastle did not survive a tough trip up the outside and had to settle for seventh.

A second-place finisher in last week’s elimination round, Hombre was drawn as the first also eligible when Kawartha racing officials made a decision on how to deal with a dead heat for second in one of the other divisions. With five eliminations only the top two colts were advancing to the Gold Final — only 10 starters can be accommodated on Kawartha’s five-eighths mile oval — and a dead heat meant there were 11 potential starters. The Kawartha judges determined that all six second-place finishers would be entered into a draw for the five remaining spots in the Final. Using that process, the colts who dead heated for second both landed in the Final while Hombre was left out.

Brantford residents Durand and Gage then appealed the ruling to the Ontario Racing Commission and after some deliberation the commissioners agreed with their contention that Hombre should be part of the Final. The original draw was nullified and two new draws were held, the first to determine which of the colts who dead heated would start in the Final and which would become the first also eligible, and the second to determine post positions for the 10 starters.

Hombre landed Post 5, Gassien crafted his strategy, and the rest as they say, is history.

Students of pedigree would not be surprised to find Hombre in the winner’s circle. Out of Gage’s great mare Sweepall, who earned $75,735 in her own right, Hombre’s siblings are a star studded bunch. Ghost Of Sweepall ($317,665), Run Dougy Run ($234,260) and Sweepalls Emerson ($231,853) were all top Ontario Sires Stakes contenders in their day and their younger brother looks to be cut from the family cloth.

On the other hand, students of handicapping were surprised to see Hombre pick up the lion’s share of the $130,000 Gold Final purse. The colt returned a whopping $54.60 to win, $8.10 to place and $6.20 to show. Northern Cowboy’s runner-up effort was worth $5.40 for each place ticket and $5.10 on a show voucher, while Bye Bye Grin returned $8.30 to show.

The 5 – 4 exactor paid $167.30 and those that like the 5 – 4 – 3 combination took home $1,590.00 for their triactor wager. Fans who tried their hand at the superfecta earned $1,329.55 on Hombre, Northern Cowboy, Bye Bye Grin and any other horse in the field, as not one person selected Warrawee Hero for the fourth-place slot.

Hombre will have an opportunity to prove the doubters in Kawartha wrong when the two-year-old pacing colts square off in their second Gold Series event July 12 at Mohawk Racetrack.

The Fraserville oval hosts its fourth Ontario Sires Stakes event on Saturday, July 16 when the highly talented three-year-old pacing fillies roll into town for their second Trillium Series showdown.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rkdftu.html