DUNDAS, ON — After waiting two years for it to happen, all the pieces fell into place for Keith Jones and Abbey Road C at Flamboro Downs on Sunday evening and the duo scored their first Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final victory in track and Ontario Sires Stakes record time.
In spite of drawing Post 7 Abbey Road C was indomitable, firing off the wings to a :28.1 opening quarter and building his lead steadily through fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.1. Elimination winner Semper Fi Hall duplicated last Saturday’s 1:57.1 record setting time but could not gain ground on Abbey Road C, who hit the wire five lengths on top in a record shattering 1:56.1.
The outstanding mile established a new Ontario Sires Stakes record for three-year-old trotting colts on a half-mile track and lowered Flamboro Downs’ all age trotting mark by one-fifth of a second.
Jones trains and drives Abbey Road C for George Charlton of Utopia and the duo were rejoicing after the victory. In spite of frequent flashes of brilliance and blinding speed, the Incredible Abe gelding has been an exercise in frustration for most of his career, prone to knocking himself out of the running with early breaks in stride. The addition of trotting hopples on July 6 has had a remarkable impact on the colt, who has scored four wins, one second and $119,095 since Jones added the steadying aids to his equipment bag.
Consistent Semper Fi Hall maintained his lead atop the Super Final point standings with a second-place finish and the other elimination winner, Dream Lavec, earned the third-place finisher’s share of the $130,000 purse.
Following three Confederation Cup Eliminations, captured by Million Dollar Cam, Mach Three and Art Major, the two-year-old pacing colts took their swing at a $130,000 purse and Au Rumba shocked fans with his gate-to-wire victory from Post 3.
Randy Waples fired the Pacific Rocket son through fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:25.3 en route to the 1:54.3 win and never faced a challenge along the way. Reigning Gold champion and fan favourite Sir Luck was 13 lengths off the pace at the start and could not regain the ground, finishing a tired fourth. His stablemate Boulder Creek closed well to be second and the other elimination winner Pinstripe Poker took home the third-place finisher’s share.
Robert Hamather of Exeter bred and owns Au Rumba, a half-brother to $637,622 winner Freedoms Friend out of his great mare No No Abby. Bill Robinson trains the youngster, who improved his record to two wins and two seconds in six starts for earnings of $95,167.
North America’s top three-year-old pacing colts wrapped up Sunday’s record setting program with an outstanding Confederation Cup final, captured in track record time by elimination winner Arts Major. Steve Condren drove the colt to the victory for trainer Bill Robinson, who also finished second with Million Dollar Cam, giving him a one-two sweep of the two richest events for sophomore pacers in Canada — the $1 million North America Cup and the $519,000 Confederation Cup.