CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — On Monday evening Warrawee Needy proved that the buzz generated by his first lifetime start was completely warranted.
Starting from Post 3 at Mohawk Racetrack, the two-year-old pacing colt and driver Jody Jamieson sat contentedly in third spot as Machal Angelo led the field of Gold Elimination contenders to a :12.4 opening eighth, a :27 opening quarter and a :56.1 half. As Orse Power took over heading for the 1:24.1 three-quarters, Moffat, ON resident Jamieson sent his charge to the outside and effortlessly reeled in the leaders, reaching the seven-eighths marker three lengths ahead of the field.
Sailing down the stretch, the flawlessly gaited Warrawee Needy pulled away from his peers with every ground eating stride, reaching the wire seven and one-quarter lengths on top in a smashing 1:51.4. Orse Power picked up the runner-up’s share of the $40,000 Gold Elimination purse, with Daniel Semalu, Boysgotfever and Machal Angelo also qualifying for next week’s $130,000 Gold Final.
Currently ranked as the fastest two-year-old in North America, Warrawee Needy is trained by Princeton, ON resident Carl Jamieson for his partners Tom Kyron of Toronto, breeder Dr. Michael Wilson of Rockwood and Floyd Marshall of Jarvis, ON. The son of E Dees Cam and Great Memories first caught the attention of harness racing watchers with an effortless 1:57.1 qualifier at Mohawk on June 11, and then caused a stir with an impressive 1:53.1 victory in a two-year-old event at the Campbellville oval on June 17.
A relatively modest $20,000 purchase at last year’s Canadian Open Yearling Sale, the half-brother to $265,704 winner Big Bay Point has already earned his connections $28,500 and will take a shot at the first $130,000 Gold Final prize of the season from Post 4 next Monday.
The first Gold Elimination saw Jake Sully and driver Aaron Byron convert a cozy pocket trip into a winner’s circle visit. Starting from Post 3, Byron opted for the same strategy that saw Jake Sully finish second by a nose in a June 20 over night at Mohawk. The Cambridge, ON resident cruised away from the starting gate and dropped down behind Astor, watching that colt ring up a snappy :12.3 eighth and :26.1 quarter.
En route to the 1:25 three-quarters, Astor came under heavy pressure from Warrawee Nonsuch, and Byron was able to squeak out behind that colt coming off the final turn. Sprinting down the stretch Jake Sully reeled in the pacesetter and reached the wire one length on top in 1:53.3. Astor stayed game for second, holding off Secretsoftheknight. Fan favourite Thunder Steeler and Caddy Jeff also advanced to next Monday’s Gold Final.
Byron engineered Jake Sully’s first victory for trainer Symon Pryjma and owner-breeder Michael Timpano of Orillia, ON. The pair will tackle Warrawee Needy and the other eight Gold Final qualifiers from Post 9 next week.
The complete line up for the first two-year-old pacing colt Gold Final of the season is as follows:
$130,000 OSS Gold Series Final — July 4 at Mohawk Racetrack
Post 1 Orse Power
Post 2 Caddy Jeff
Post 3 Thunder Steeler
Post 4 Warrawee Needy
Post 5 Machal Angelo
Post 6 Astor
Post 7 Secretsoftheknight
Post 8 Boysgotfever
Post 9 Jake Sully
Post 10 Daniel Semalu
For complete results please go to: Mohawk Racetrack Results — June 27, 2011