FRASERVILLE, ON — This season’s two-year-old trotting colts put on an impressive show in their Gold Series debut at Kawartha Downs on Thursday evening.
Driver Rick Zeron posted one win and one second, and the veteran horseman was impressed by the talent on display in the season opener.
“Those were huge miles because it was hot and the track was very dry and very loose,” says the Oakville resident. “They were big miles.”
Zeron kicked things off with Majestic Image in the first $40,000 Gold Elimination, sailing across the wire four and one-half lengths on top in 2:00.4. On Stride trotted into second, just holding off a hard closing Tymal Oh So Nice.
Zeron guided Majestic Image to the win for trainer Kevin O’Reilly of Moffat and his partners Frank Cirillo of Kleinburg and breeder Chiara Longo of Mississauga. The Majestic Son colt prepped for his debut with a runner-up finish in qualifying action at Mohawk Racetrack on June 28.
Zeron almost made it a double in the second elimination, but had to settle for the runner-up spot when Prized Fighter hustled by Jake Be Nimble in the stretch. Coming off fractions of :29, :59 and 1:27.3 logged by pacesetter The Golden Child, Prized Fighter sprinted home to a 1:57.3 victory, the quickest mile of the three Gold Eliminations.
Jake Be Nimble finished three and one-quarter lengths back in second, with The Game Plan hot on his heels in third.
Hillsburgh resident Jeff Gillis conditions Prized Fighter for his partners Al Libfeld of Pickering and Steven Kazman of Thornhill. A second generation product of Libfeld’s breeding program, Prized Fighter is by Duke Of York and out of Concher. The colt bested Majestic Image by three-quarters of a length in their June 28 qualifier, and posted a 12 and one-quarter length victory in a June 11 qualifying event at Mohawk.
Anthony MacDonald piloted Prized Fighter to Thursday’s victory.
The final Gold Elimination trophy went home with Richard Norman trainee Heres The Magic, who cruised to a two and three-quarter length score in 1:59.1. San Pietro finished second with Summer Indian grabbing the third-place share for trainer John Bax’s Parkhill Stud Farm of Peterborough, John Hayes of Sharon and John Houston of Cobourg.
David McDuffee of Delray Beach, FL and Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, FL bred and own Heres The Magic, the first Kadabra colt out of $209,314 winner Blackberry Hanover. The youngster prepped for Thursday’s race with a 2:02.2 qualifying effort over The Meadowlands oval in New Jersey on June 30.
Heres The Magic will start from Post 5 in the July 14 Gold Final, with Prized Fighter getting Post 3 and Majestic Image saddled with the outside Post 8. The complete line up for next week’s $130,000 Gold Final is as follows:
$130,000 Gold Series Final — July 14 at Kawartha Downs
Post 1 On Stride
Post 2 Tymal Oh So Nice
Post 3 Prized Fighter
Post 4 The Game Plan
Post 5 Heres The Magic
Post 6 Summer Indian
Post 7 San Pietro
Post 8 Majestic Image
Post 9 Jake Be Nimble
For complete results please go to: Kawartha Downs Results — July 7, 2011