FRASERVILLE, ON — Heat, humidity and fast horses is an equation that often produces record breaking miles, and it certainly proved true at Kawartha Downs on Tuesday evening as three Gold Eliminations all clocked in under the former track record and local colt San Pail blazed his way into Ontario Sires Stakes history.

The three-year-old trotting colt and trainer Rodney Hughes lit things up early, firing out of Post 1 in the first Gold Elimination and reaching the opening quarter in :28. Hughes teamed San Pail to a steady :57.4 half and then hit the accelerator; to the three-quarters in 1:25.4, the gelding trotted under the wire in an Ontario Sires Stakes record equalling 1:54.4.

Coming in just his second Gold Series start, San Pail’s victory thrust him into some elite company. The 1:54.4 mile matched the Ontario Sires Stakes record that Breeder’s Crown winner Majestic Son clocked at Georgian Downs last season, and peeled one and one-fifths seconds off the Kawartha track record set by Hambletonian winner Yankee Paco in 2000.

Little Britain resident Hughes shares ownership on San Pail with breeder Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry. The partners have been watching the San Pellegrino son with interest since his April 1 debut. The gelding scored his first victory in his second lifetime start, and then continued to improve his race times and tactics until picking up win number two with a smart 1:56.2 performance at Mohawk Racetrack on June 18.

Through 11 starts San Pail has now accumulated three wins, one second and $48,500 in earnings. The 1:54.4 mile also made the gelding the fastest horse among a group of talented siblings, including $170,581 winner V C Chipperific and $184,328 winner Donna Wallbanger.

Celtic Warrior trailed under the wire two and a half lengths behind San Pail to claim the runner-up’s share of the $39,603 purse, edging Cayenne Turbo into third.

In the second elimination Laddie picked up his first win of the sophomore campaign with a come from behind effort reminiscent of his stellar two-year-old season. The Angus Hall son and driver Paul MacDonell sat sixth through much of the race, circled three-wide at the three-quarter marker and then sprinted down the stretch to a two length victory in 1:55.4. Libra Vita and pacesetter Beer Budget rounded out the top three.

A winner of six races at two, including his Breeders Crown elimination, the William Wellwood Memorial elimination and Final, a Champlain Stakes division and a Gold Series Elimination and Final, Laddie made his 2007 debut in the Goodtimes Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack on June 9, finishing fourth in both his elimination and the consolation.

Paula Wellwood trains the winner of $455,775 for the Wellwood Stables Inc. of Cambridge.

The last elimination went to another newcomer to the provincial racing scene. Claudius Augustus arrived in late May from Sacramento, CA, where he had bested his Cal-Expo competition in four straight outings. The Angus Hall son added two more victories to his resume in overnight events at Mohawk before suffering his first ever loss on June 14.

Claudius Augustus and driver Mario Baillargeon rocketed out of Post 8 to reach the opening quarter in :28, and then sailed unchallenged through a :57.3 half, a 1:26.1 three-quarters and on to the 1:55.4 victory. Keystone Bounty made his way up the outside to finish one and one-quarter lengths back in second and Super Chuck was two more lengths back in third.

Debra Budahn trains Claudius Augustus for The Gusty Stable of Rolling Hills Estates, CA. Through eight starts the trotter has seven wins, one second and a bankroll of $47,876.

The top three colts from each Gold Elimination will return to Kawartha Downs next Tuesday, July 3, lining up behind the starting gate as follows:

Post 1 Beer Budget

Post 2 Laddie

Post 3 Super Chuck

Post 4 Celtic Warrior

Post 5 Claudius Augustus

Post 6 Libra Vita

Post 7 Cayenne Turbo

Post 8 Keystone Bounty

Post 9 San Pail

Also Eligible 1 Snail Mail

Also Eligible 2 Supreme Council

Also Eligible 3 T Js Mr Lavec

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rkdftu.html