TORONTO, ON — Striking Lindsey delivered an outstanding performance from Post 10 at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday night to earn his first $120,000 Gold Final title.
Driver Jody Jamieson had the colt on his toes when the starting gate swung away from the field of 10, and when former Gold Final winner Senator Hall reached the quarter pole in :28, Striking Lindsey was sitting sixth on the outside, just five and a half lengths behind the pacesetter. While Paula Wellwood trainee Pointe Of Honour took control of the front end before the :57.4 half, Striking Lindsey was enjoying the windbreak provided by that colt’s stablemate Kingsbury as the pair travelled along the outside.
Although he mounted a game challenge, Kingsbury failed to overtake his stablemate, so Jamieson tipped Striking Lindsey out three-wide at the 1:28.1 three-quarters. Turning for home both pocket sitter Senator Hall and Striking Lindsey had reeled in Pointe Of Honour, with Striking Lindsey a short neck in front as they prepared for the stretch duel.
A little extra snap through the wire earned Striking Lindsey his first Gold Final title in 1:58.1, three-quarters of a length ahead of Senator Hall, and one length up on Pointe Of Honour.
The win marked Striking Lindsey’s third appearance in an Ontario Sires Stakes winner’s circle. The son of Striking Sahbra and former Gold Series regular Lindsey Fireyimage captured his Gold Elimination last week and was also an elimination winner at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 25.
Gregg McNair of Guelph has conditioned the young trotter to earnings of $190,090 from three wins, two seconds and one third in 12 starts on behalf of owner and breeder Kenneth Sommer of Sheffield, OH.
Coming off a lacklustre performance in the elimination round, former Gold Final champion Winning Mister redeemed himself with a 1:57.4 triumph in the $20,000 Gold Consolation.
Starting from Post 5 in the field of seven, Winning Mister and driver Randy Waples were well back of early leaders V Star and Hitithard at the :28.3 quarter, sitting 12 lengths off the pace in fifth. While Aloft battled his way to the front heading by the :58.2 half, Waples was content to sit in fifth with Winning Mister, waiting until the 1:28.1 three-quarters to send the colt to the outside.
Hitithard powered up to the front around the final turn, leaving Winning Mister three and one-quarter lengths to the rear in fourth, but a sharp finishing kick earned Waples and Winning Mister the neck victory. Hitithard battled into second, with Kilted Pride two lengths behind the leaders in third.
Guelph resident Keith Klages trains Winning Mister for owner and breeder Robert Key of Leechburg, PA. Through 15 starts the Angus Hall son has posted four wins, two seconds and one third for earnings of $120,650.
The top 10 point earners will return to Woodbine Racetrack next Saturday, Nov. 15 for their season ending Super Final, worth a cool $300,000. A total of $2.4 million in Ontario Sires Stakes purse money will be on the line as all eight two and three-year-old divisions converge on the Toronto oval for their championship battles.
For complete results please go to: http://www.previewsc.ca/racing/results/data/r1108wdbsn.dat.