GLOUCESTER, ON — Heading into the two-year-old pacing colt Gold Final at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Hall of Fame horseman Bob McIntosh said the colt who got the best trip would take home the lion’s share of the $234,313 purse, and on Sunday night Keystone Horatio got the perfect trip.
Starting from Post 6, driver Randy Waples pushed Keystone Horatio just hard enough to land in second spot on the rail behind Believeinbruiser. As Believeinbruiser rolled through fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:25.4, Waples kept Keystone Horatio glued to the leader’s heels. Turning for home Keystone Horatio was just one length back, and a smart :27.1 finishing kick propelled Waples and the Rustler Hanover son down the stretch to a two and a half length triumph in 1:53.2.
Believeinbruiser held on for second, while Lennon Blue Chip closed hard to earn the third-place finisher’s share of the lucrative provincial purse.
Sunday’s triumph marked Keystone Horatio’s second straight visit to the winner’s circle. The John Kopas trainee captured his Nassagaweya division at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 15 in a personal best 1:52.4. Keystone Horatio also boasts wins in his Battle Of Waterloo elimination at Grand River Raceway on July 30 and in his Aug. 12 Gold Elimination at Flamboro Downs. Through nine starts the colt has never finished worse than fifth, and Sunday’s victory boosted his earnings to $301,593.
George Hempt of Camp Hill, PA bred and owns Keystone Horatio, who is the first foal from broodmare Keystone Havoc. With a total of 162 points earned in his three Gold Series appearances, Keystone Horatio currently sits second in the division standings behind the undefeated Deuce Seelster.
The two-year-old pacing colts will make their fourth Gold Series start on Oct. 8 at Mohawk Racetrack, with the Gold Final going postward Oct. 15 at Woodbine Racetrack.
Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing fillies kicked off their fourth Gold Series event at Rideau Carleton on Sunday with a pair of $55,024 Gold Eliminations.
Style Semalu stepped off her second elimination victory, and fifth win of the season, in the first contest with a come-from-behind effort. The Million Dollar Cam miss sprinted down the stretch to reach the wire one and a half lengths ahead of Designated Leader and fan favourite All Accounted For in a 1:54.4 personal best.
Enniscrone finished fourth and Lilbitfasternow claimed the fifth spot in the elimination, and the ninth spot in next week’s Gold Final.
Gilles Dion piloted Style Semalu to the win for trainer Pierre Touchette and owners Semalu Inc. and Zoom And Fish Stable Inc. of Laval, QC. Through nine starts the talented young pacer now boasts a record of five wins and one second for earnings of $103,403.
The other elimination saw division point leader Shake That Junk cruise along on the front end to a 1:54.3 victory, almost three seconds faster than her former personal best. Favourite Maddam Luck finished two and a half lengths back in second, Southwind Swallow was third and Serious Camotion rounded out the top three.
Campbellville resident James “Friday” Dean trains Shake That Junk for driver Jody Jamieson of Cambridge, Dr. David Powell of Campbellville and P and J Stable of Mississauga. The owners have cheered the Camluck daughter to three wins, one second and three thirds in 10 starts. Aside from Sunday night’s romp, the filly’s victories came in the Aug. 6 Gold Final at Grand River Raceway and a division of the Aug. 12 Robert Stewart Stake at Mohawk Racetrack.
Shake The Junk will return to the advantageous Post 1 in the Gold Final next Sunday, Oct. 7. The other two-year-old pacing fillies will line up behind the Rideau Carleton Raceway starting gate as follows:
Post 1 Shake That Junk
Post 2 Maddam Luck
Post 3 Serious Camotion
Post 4 All Accounted For
Post 5 Lilbitfasternow
Post 6 Designated Leader
Post 7 Enniscrone
Post 8 Southwind Swallow
Post 9 Style Semalu
Also Eligible 1 Pondo Star
Also Eligible 2 Envy
Also Eligible 3 A And Gs Astreos
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rridcfsu.html