ELORA, ON — Grand River Raceway fans sent Buckhams Bay off as the heavy favourite in Wednesday’s $130,000 Gold Final, and the two-year-old trotting colt delivered an impressive effort that proved their assessment was right on the money.
Starting from Post 6 Buckhams Bay was out-muscled off the starting gate by three horses to his left, so driver Jacques Hebert chose to cruise along on the outside. Whatabout Tom and driver Kelly Sheppard were quickest away from Post 5 and raced to a :28.3 opening quarter. Through the first quarter Buckhams Bay drafted along behind Gold Elimination winner Plato, but when that colt dropped onto the rail before the :58.4 half, the fan favourite was left rolling up the outside without cover.
Whatabout Tom continued to lead the field through a 1:28.4 three-quarters, with Buckhams Bay looming large on his right side. Around the final turn the young trotters maintained their positions — Whatabout Tom on the lead, Plato in the pocket, and Buckhams Bay on the outside — but as the trio straightened out it was clear that Buckhams Bay and Plato were the contenders with speed in reserve.
The pair of Gold Elimination winners battled to the wire, but Buckhams Bay prevailed for a one-half length victory in 1:59.1. Plato finished second, while Whatabout Tom settled for third. Don Pietro, co-owned by trainer Benoit Baillargeon of Rockwood, ON, finished fourth, while Major Herbie was the final prize winner for Henry Stable of Arthur, ON and Dan McCann of Parkhill, ON.
Buckhams Bay is now flawless through four starts for earnings of $170,000. The son of Ken Warkentin and Merles Image captured his elimination and the final of the season opening Gold Series event at Mohawk Racetrack in July and posted an effortless two and one-half length victory in his elimination at Grand River last Wednesday.
John Smith of Woodlawn, ON bred, owns and trains the gifted young trotter, whose half-siblings include $1.1 million winner Mc Cooeye and $337,914 winner Merles Pearl. Smith prepped Buckhams Bay for his freshman debut with a pair of qualifiers at Rideau Carleton Raceway, which is where the two-year-old trotting colts are heading for their third Gold Series skirmish.
The Ottawa oval will roll out the red carpet for its successful local son on Friday, Aug. 20 for the Gold Eliminations and hope to welcome him back on Aug. 27 for the Gold Final.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday, Aug. 11 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old pacing fillies, the second of six Grassroots events on their 2010 schedule.
For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0804grvrn.dat.