WINDSOR, ON — Sophomore pacing colt Astronomical stormed around Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening to claim his second straight Gold Final victory and take a commanding lead atop the division standings with just one Gold Series event remaining in the regular season.

Astronomical and driver Mark MacDonald fired out of Post 7 on Sunday and went straight to the front, reaching the :28 quarter almost two lengths ahead of their rivals. Once comfortably ensconced on the front end MacDonald put the Astreos son on cruise control and the pacer loafed to a :58.1 half. The pair picked up the pace heading to the 1:25.2 three-quarters and then sprinted home to record the 1:52.3 victory.

Elimination winner Zooka delivered another impressive free-legged performance to earn the runner-up’s share of the $130,000 purse, finishing three lengths behind Astronomical, and Extreme Three closed like a rocket to finish third.

Dr. Ian Moore, who splits his time between Charlottetown, PEI and Campbellville, ON, trains and shares ownership on Astronomical with William Shearer of Bedford, NS and R G McGroup Ltd. of Bathurst, NB. The group acquired the colt for $10,000 at the 2003 Atlantic Classic Sale in PEI and have watched him post a record of 10 wins, eight seconds and one third in 30 starts over the last two seasons for lifetime earnings of $424,455.

Astronomical has been on an impressive run since capturing the Aug. 15 Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack. Moore notes that the cooler air may be helping the colt, who delivered two impressive efforts in his Confedration Cup heat and the Final at Flamboro Downs on Aug. 21 and then bounced back to win his elimination last weekend in a smart 1:51.4.

Windsor Raceway fans did an impressive job of handicapping Sunday’s tenth race, with all but one of the nine entrants finishing exactly where fans had predicted. Only local hope Bert’s Casey, owned by Harrow resident Leo Racicot, finished out of order. Windsor fans had hoped he would wind up fourth in the $130,000 battle, but the Albert Albert son had to settle for sixth.

Astronomical returned $3.50 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.40 to show, second choice Zooka delivered a $2.90 place pay out and a $2.70 show dividend, and third choice Extreme Three rewarded fans with a $4.30 show pay out. The exactor returned $11.70, the triactor was worth $41.90 and correctly selecting the top three finishers and fourth-place finisher Riverfront Cafe earned fans $89.55.

Sunday’s victory bumped Astronomical’s point total to 242 through four Gold events and the colt will have one last opportunity to pad his lead when the regular season wraps up at Woodbine Racetrack on Oct. 21. The top 10 point earners will return to Woodbine on Nov. 12 for their season ending $300,000 Super Final.

Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Windsor Raceway on Wednesday, Sept. 7, when the three-year-old pacing fillies will heat things up in six Grassroots divisions.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwrfsu.html#N10