REXDALE, ON — Laddie returned to the Ontario Sires Stakes in spectacular style Friday, matching the provincial record for three-year-old trotting colts on a seven-eighths mile track with a 1:54.3 Gold Elimination triumph at Woodbine Racetrack.
Starting from Post 1 in just their third Gold Series start of the season, Laddie and driver Paul MacDonell of Guelph allowed Hoopie and Smarty Jims to battle to a :27.4 opening quarter while they watched from third. Heading for the :57.2 half, MacDonell sent the fan favourite after the lead, and Laddie effortlessly sailed to the front well before the 1:25.3 three-quarters.
Turning for home Laddie had two lengths on his peers, but Randy Waples was just shifting San Pail into gear. The colts battled to the wire, but Laddie dug in to secure the nose victory in 1:54.3, matching the Ontario Sires Stakes record shared by Rotation (2002) and Majestic Son (2006).
San Pail finished second, well ahead of third-place finisher Cayenne Turbo. Early combatants Hoopie and Smarty Jims will also return to Woodbine next Friday, Oct. 26 for the $130,000 Gold Final.
The mile marked Laddie’s fourth trip to the winner’s circle in 13 starts, and lowered his personal best by two-fifths of a second. Aside from his win in the June 26 elimination and July 3 Gold Final at Kawartha Downs, the Paula Wellwood trainee has spent the bulk of his sophomore season butting heads with the best trotters in North America, finishing third to sophomore superstar Donato Hanover in both the $1.5 million Hambletonian and the $1 million Canadian Trotting Classic.
Wellwood Stables Inc. of Cambridge own the talented young trotter, who has earned $457,971 this season.
The second elimination saw reigning Gold Final champion Arch Madness begin defence of his title with 1:55.2 score. The Balanced Image son and driver Steve Condren of Milton started from Post 3 and took command of the race just after the :28.4 opening quarter. Laying down fractions of :57.4 and 1:27, Arch Madness cruised home to a four and a half length victory over Tonight AAS and Flirtin Man, while Snazzy Hot Rod and Celtic Warrior claimed the last two spots in the Gold Final.
Arch Madness came into Friday’s contest off his own clash with Donato Hanover. The Trond Smedshammer trainee finished second to the three-year-old trotting titan in both the elimination and the final of the prestigious Kentucky Futurity on Oct. 6, and is clearly none the worse for wear for his two-heat experience.
A winner of seven of 16 this season, Arch Madness is owned by Marc Goldberg of Woodmere, NY and Willow Pond LLC of Hewlett, NY. The talented young trotter has banked $346,232 with his sophomore efforts.
Arch Madness will be handicapped by Post 10 in next week’s Gold Final, while Laddie starts from Post 7. The remainder of the field will line up behind the Woodbine Racetrack starting gate as follows:
Post 1 Celtic Warrior
Post 2 Hoopie
Post 3 Flirtin Man
Post 4 Snazzy Hot Rod
Post 5 Tonight AAS
Post 6 San Pail
Post 7 Laddie
Post 8 Cayenne Turbo
Post 9 Smarty Jims
Post 10 Arch Madness
Also Eligible 1 Dream Of Ernie
Also Eligible 2 Guilford
Also Eligible 3 Beer Budget
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwdbsfr.html