FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015 � Performing in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Friday evening, local entry Sportskeeper delivered a track record effort to capture the last of three $70,000 Gold Series divisions.

Following the winner’s circle celebrations, co-owner and breeder Merlin Howse said he never expected the three-year-old pacer to be winning races, let alone establishing track records.

“He was a very sick horse when he was small. He was in Guelph hospital for two weeks. When he come home from the hospital I was going to give him away, I didn’t want him,” explained the Langton, ON resident. “I didn’t want him, he was so sick.

“This is great,” added Howse, taking in the view of the large crowd opposite the winner’s circle.

Howse bred and owns the son of Sportswriter and Keeper Flying in partnership with trainer Casie Coleman of Cambridge, ON. Last season the partners collected two Ontario Sires Stakes trophies, one Grassroots and one Gold, and banked $95,200 on the gelding’s behalf.

Sportskeeper and driver Chris Christoforou employed front end tactics to post the 1:53 track record for three-year-old pacing geldings, holding off favourite Physicallyinclined and the other local entry, J Js Delivery, owned by Bob Hamather of Exeter, ON.

Go Daddy Go delivered the kind of race driver John Campbell and trainer Bob McIntosh had been waiting for to earn the first Gold trophy of the evening. The Ponder son and Hall of Fame reinsman Campbell took control early, turned away a challenge from Sportsmanship, and then cruised home easy winners in 1:53.1. Moonwriter and Dialamara, owned by John Lamers of Ingersoll, rounded out the top three.

“He didn’t really qualify as good as Bob and I had hoped, we were a little disappointed in his last quarters both times, but tonight he was really strong. That’s as strong as he’s ever been racing on the front,” said Ailsa Craig, ON native Campbell after the race. “He really was back to where we expected him to be and I guess it just took those qualifiers to get him tight.”

Hall of Fame trainer McIntosh bred Go Daddy Go, whose bank balance increased to $433,216 with the win, and the Windsor, ON resident shares ownership of the handsome chestnut colt with Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, ON and Diamond Creek Racing of Wellsville, PA.

The other Gold Leg was captured by Windsong Leo, who also went to the front early and controlled the tempo of the race, in spite of starting from Post 7. Driver Jody Jamieson crafted the 1:54.1 victory for trainer Dan O’Brian and owner Everette Hanson of Maugerville, NB.

“He’s just a real nice colt. Danny’s done a great job with him,” said Jamieson. “And a guy like Everette Hanson — there’s no pressure — he was really patient with the horse.”

Unraced at two, Windsong Leo’s Gold Leg victory was his seventh straight, with his win streak starting in early March. Bob Ben And John and Win One Soon completed the triactor in the second Gold Leg.

The three-year-old pacing colts make their second Gold Series start at Mohawk Racetrack on June 29.

The final race on Friday’s program was the $150,000 Molson Pace and Chris Christoforou made a second visit to the winner’s circle, guiding State Treasurer to his third Molson Pace win. All Bets Off, Evenin Of Pleasure and P H Supercam finished within a length of the winner in the 1:51 mile, capping off an outstanding season of racing at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

For complete results please visit The Raceway at Western Fair District Results — May 29, 2015