REXDALE, ON — The favourites were forced to play second fiddle at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday night when three-year-old trotting colts Abbey Road C and Balagar captured their Gold Series Eliminations with wire-to-wire efforts from Post 7.
In the first elimination Abbey Road C and trainer-driver Keith Jones toured the Woodbine oval without a glance behind as they maintained a healthy lead throughout the mile, crossing the finish line one and a half lengths ahead of reigning Gold Final champs and favourites Ryan Hall and Trevor Ritchie.
Jones and the Incredible Abe son posted fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:27.1 en route to the 1:56 victory, finally delivering on the promise they had shown in early season qualifiers but had failed to deliver in two starts that were marred by breaks in stride. A winner of $56,767 in Ontario Sires Stakes action at two, Abbey Road C is owned by George Charlton of Utopia.
Dream Lavec rounded out the top three in Race 2, while B Cor Classy Image and Treasure Image also advanced to the June 10 Gold Final by virtue of their fourth and fifth-place efforts.
In the second elimination Balagar came up with an impressive effort in his third lifetime start to score a narrow victory over favourite Living Image. Driven by trainer Rick Zeron the Balanced Image son fired straight to the front and rolled off fractions of :27.2, :58.1 and 1:28.3 before fending off Living Image to post the 1:56.2 win.
Deam With Me Stable of Caledon East and Gaetan Bono of Laval, QC own Balagar, who was unraced as a two-year-old and had one win and one off the board finish under his belt before Monday’s triumph. Sent off as the fans’ fifth choice, Balagar returned $48.30 for a two dollar investment.
A half-brother to $767,636 winner Dreamaster, Balagar led a sweep of Balanced Image sons in the fourth race as both runner-up Living Image and third-place finisher, Breeders Crown champ Duke Of York, are sired by the prolific Glengate Farms stud.
A total of seven Balanced Image sons will start in the $130,000 Gold Final on June 10; Ryan Hall, B Cor Classy Image and Treasure Image out of the first elimination and Balagar, Living Image, Duke of York and fifth-placed Rotation out of the second elimination. Abbey Road C will represent his sire Incredible Abe while Dream Lavec and fourth-placed Priceless Gem will carry the Mr Lavec bloodline into the lucrative Final next Monday.