REXDALE, ON — Meadowview Sunny extended his perfect record to five with a 2:01.4 victory in his Gold Series Elimination at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday night.
The Classic Adam son and driver Doug Brown dictated the pace from start to finish, stepping off the gate from Post 5 to a :29.4 opening quarter, reaching the half in 1:01.2 and the three-quarters in a sedate 1:33. Kingdom and Rick Zeron made a run at the fan favourite through the stretch, but could get no closer than three-quarters of a length. First time starter Mr Garjangles trotted into third, two and a quarter lengths off the pace.
Meadowview Sunny now has five wins in five starts after sweeping the first two Gold Series events at Kawartha Downs and Elmira Raceway. Paul Shakes of Stayner trains the winner of $184,883 for owner-breeder Charles Reid of Orono.
The quickest of the three divisions went to Gerry Lavec and Mario Baillargeon, who stopped the infield clock at 1:59.2. Baillargeon settled the Mr Lavec son in fourth spot on the rail through the early going as favourite Heavy Raincoat took the field through fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:30.2. Heading for the three-quarters Baillargeon and Gerry Lavec made their move and took control around the last turn before pulling away to a three and three-quarter length victory over Heavy Raincoat and At A Boy Eric.
Benoit Baillargeon trains Gerry Lavec for C and I Siegel Racing Stable Ltd. of Brooklyn, NY. The win was the colt’s first in three Ontario Sires Stakes outings and boosted him into the top 10 colt angling for a berth in the season ending $300,000 Super Final.
The final division went to Ethen Seelster off an impressive gate-to-wire 2:00.2 effort over Armbro Acme and Sno Goal. The Mr Lavec son was making his first start since trainer Bob McIntosh added trotting hopples to his equipment package and savvy Woodbine fans selected him as the favourite based on a sharp Aug. 14 qualifying win with the hopples.
Windsor resident McIntosh shares ownership on Ethen Seelster with Dave Boyle of Bowmanville and CSX Stables, Liberty Center, OH. The partners have now recouped $23,761 of the royally bred colt’s $42,000 US purchase price.
The top three finishers from each elimination plus one fourth-place finisher drawn by lot, will advance to the $130,000 Gold Final next Monday, the last Ontario Sires Stakes event on Woodbine Racetrack’s 2002 schedule.