WINDSOR, ON — Smooth Moves cruised to a convincing victory at Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening, taking home the last Gold Final trophy of the three-year-old trotting colt season and vaulting to the top of the division standings.
With trotting specialist Trevor Ritchie at the helm, Smooth Moves powered straight to the front from Post 4 in the $130,000 contest and laid down fractions of :26.3, :56.4 and 1:26.2 before pulling away from the field to the two and one quarter length victory. Last Flight Out and Orion King closed well to land in second and third, while Classic Lavec, owned by Classic Farms of Belle River, edged out favourite Good To Be King for the fourth spot.
Trained by Harald Lunde of Campbellville for his partner Hans Enggren of New Oxford, PA, Smooth Moves has made four appearances in the winner’s circle this season and finished third four times for earnings of $231,989. Three of the Angus Hall son’s victories came in Gold Series action and he heads into the Nov. 12 Super Final as the division leader with a total of 162 points, 10 more than runner-up Stonebridge Diablo.
The colt will also roll into Woodbine Racetrack for the $300,000 season finale on a two-race win streak. He was a 1:57 winner in last week’s elimination round and seems to be rounding into form at the perfect time.
Windsor Raceway fans sent Smooth Moves off as their second choice in Sunday’s Gold Final, placing more faith in the other elimination winner Good To Be King, who finished fifth. As a result Smooth Moves returned $6.80 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.80 to show. Last Flight Out was the fans’ sixth choice and he delivered an $11.20 place pay out and a $4.80 return on each show wager. Fourth choice Orion King paid $3.60 to show.
Combining the Angus Hall sons Smooth Moves and Last Flight Out on an exactor ticket earned fans $97.50 and adding Orion King on for a triactor play was worth $431.30. Correctly selecting the top three finishers and slotting local colt Classic Lavec, the longest shot in the nine horse field, in for fourth delivered a tidy $3,709.90 return on each superfecta wager.
The top 10 point earners from the three-year-old trotting colt division will now enjoy a two week break in action to prepare for the Nov. 12 Super Final. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Windsor Raceway for the final time this season next Saturday, Nov. 5 for a pair of $130,000 Gold Finals featuring the top two-year-old trotting and pacing fillies.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwrfsu.html#N10