GLOUCESTER, ON — Over a track rated four second slower than normal, Isle Of Patmos led a parade of Astreos sons across the finish line in Gold Final action at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday evening.
Starting from Post 1 as the heavy favourite, Luc Ouellette followed his preferred plan of attack and sent Isle Of Patmos directly to the front. The colt laid down fractions of :28.2, :59.2 and 1:28.3 on his way to the two and one quarter length, 1:57.1 victory over Make My Day, Lincoln Parke and Astronomical, all sons of Astreos, who has made a significant impression on the Ontario Sires Stakes scene with his first crop of youngsters.
Mark Capone trains Isle Of Patmos for breeder Peter Heffering of Port Perry, David Scharf of New York, NY, Jerry Silva of Bellmore, NY and Sampson Street Stables of Old Forge, PA. The group offered up $100,000 US for the handsome bay colt at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale and have earned $244,566 on their investment through 10 starts.
In addition to Thursday evening’s victory the colt boasts wins in last weeks’ Gold Elimination, his Oct. 1 Gold Elimination and the Nassagaweya Stakes. He started his Ontario Sires Stakes career with a runner-up finish in the Aug. 24 Grassroots event at Kawartha Downs.
Impressed with his track record performance in last week’s elimination, Rideau Carleton Raceway fans sent the colt off as their heavy favourite and he returned $2.70 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Make My Day, the fourth choice in the nine horse field, paid $6.30 to place and $4.70 to show while third choice Lincoln Parke delivered $3.60 to his backers far each show wager. The exactor was worth $10.30 and the Astreos son triactor paid $38.70.
Next up for the top 10 point earnings colts is the $300,000 Super Final, Nov. 13 at Woodbine Racetrack, and Isle Of Patmos vaulted him self into third spot on the leaderboard with Sunday’s victory.
The Gold Final event wrapped up Rideau Carleton Raceway’s 2004 Ontario Sires Stakes season, which saw outstanding racing from six of the eight OSS divisions. In addition to Isle Of Patmos’ track record last week, Rideau Carleton fans saw a stellar performance by three-year-old trotting filly star Peaceful Way, who not only set a track record, but lowered the all-time Ontario Sires Stakes record for sophomore trotting fillies on a five-eighths mile track.
The Ontario Sires Stakes program will return to Rideau Carleton Raceway next season with a fresh group of trotters and pacers eager to make their mark on the provincial stage.