DUNDAS, ON — One was making his debut in the Gold Series while the other is ranked in the top five, one controlled the tempo from start to finish while the other swept by the leaders in the stretch, but both Prestidigitator and Heres The Magic got the job done in Gold Elimination action at Flamboro Downs on Friday.
Under cloud laden skies and over a rain-soaked track, Prestidigitator provided his owners with a ray of sunshine as he left the field in his wake in the first $40,000 Gold Elimination. Starting from Post 2 the two-year-old trotting colt was six lengths ahead at the :29.2 quarter, 11 lengths ahead at the :59.2 half and four lengths on top at the 1:29.4 three-quarters.
Keystone Orion closed hard in the final quarter to carve Prestidigitator’s lead down to one and one-quarter lengths at the wire, but the fan favourite was clearly well in hand as he cruised under the wire in 2:00.1 over a Flamboro oval rated two seconds slower than normal. No Less Than Magic was four and three-quarter lengths behind the leader, with Midfield Magic four more lengths back in fourth.
Milton resident Sylvain Filion piloted Prestidigitator to the victory for trainer Dustin Jones and owner Ecurie Synergy of Montreal, QC. Through five lifetime starts the son of Kadabra and $272,466 winner Shesa Priority has posted two wins and two seconds for earnings of $99,437. The first time Ontario Sires Stakes starter was a $120,000 purchase at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Filion will steer Prestidigitator from Post 3 in next Friday’s $130,000 Gold Final.
Starting from Post 5 in the second division, Oakville resident Scott Zeron laid off the pace with fan favourite Heres The Magic, sitting on the rail at the back as The Northern Dude rang up a :28.3 opening quarter and a :59.1 half. Heading for the 1:30 three-quarters Zeron sent his mount up the outside behind Filion and Warrawee Nimby and down the stretch Heres The Magic proved to have the quicker step, reaching the wire three-quarters of a length on top in 2:01.
Warrawee Nimby was a well deserved second, with pacesetter The Northern Dude and pocket sitter Yackety Yak rounding out the Gold Final qualifiers.
Richard “Nifty” Norman conditions Heres The Magic for owner-breeders David McDuffee of Delray Beach, FL and Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, FL. Through 10 starts the son of Kadabra and $209,314 winner Blackberry Hanover now has two wins, one second and one third for earnings of $97,183. Friday’s victory was the colt’s second in Gold Elimination action this season, and boosts his point tally to 150, good enough for second spot in the division standings.
Zeron and Heres The Magic will start from Post 7 in the Sept. 30 Gold Final over the Flamboro Downs half-mile.
The complete line up for the fourth Gold Final on the two-year-old trotting colts’ calendar is as follows:
$130,000 Gold Series Final — Friday, Sept. 30 at Flamboro Downs
Post 1 Midfield Magic
Post 2 Keystone Orion
Post 3 Prestidigitator
Post 4 The Northern Dude
Post 5 Warrawee Nimby
Post 6 Yackety Yak
Post 7 Heres The Magic
Post 8 No Less Than Magic
Also Eligible 1 Victim Of Changes
Also Eligible 2 On Stride
Also Eligible 3 Summer Indian
For complete results please go to: Flamboro Downs Results — Sept. 23, 2011