DUNDAS, ON — As owner Denis Breton predicted, it was Windsong Jack’s quick turn of speed that propelled him to Gold Final glory at Flamboro Downs on Saturday evening.
The two-year-old pacing colt and driver Scott Zeron lined up at Post 2 in the $130,000 Gold Final and when fan favourite Mach Pride rocketed away from the starting gate to a :27.1 opening quarter Zeron opted to drop Windsong Jack into second. Driver Anthony MacDonald took his foot off the gas after the sharp quarter and Mach Pride cruised along on the front to a :57.1 half and a 1:26.3 three-quarters.
Mach Pride turned for home with a one and three-quarter length lead, but when Zeron asked Windsong Jack for his big gear the colt responded with a finishing kick that propelled him to a quarter length victory in 1:55.3.
Reigning Gold Final champion and Gold Series point leader Mach Pride had to settle for second-place spoils, while Windsong Jack’s stablemate Slight Touch recovered from an early break to finish third. F Twenty Two paced into fourth and Bad Boy Hill made a series of breaks that left him well back in fifth. Only five colts entered the third Gold Series of the season, meaning all five advanced directly to Saturday’s final without need for an elimination round.
Oakville resident Zeron crafted Windsong Jack’s third lifetime victory for trainer David Menary and owners Breton, who makes his home in Welland, Larry Menary of Cheltenham, Kenneth Ewen of Georgetown and Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford. The partners acquired Windsong Jack from last fall’s Canadian Yearling Sale for $48,000 and can now boast a $134,000 return on investment.
Windsong Jack started his Ontario Sires Stakes career at the Grassroots level, scoring a 13 length win at Flamboro Downs on July 4. The son of Santanna Blue Chip and Milliondollarsmile made the leap up to the Gold Series in time for the second event, held July 15 and 22 at Rideau Carleton Raceway, and the colt finished second in his elimination and the final to Mach Pride.
The pacer posted his 1:55.1 personal best winning his Battle Of Waterloo Elimination at Grand River Raceway on July 30, but was knocked out of the money in the Aug. 6 final due to a pylon violation. Menary prepped the colt for Saturday’s Gold Final test with a 1:57.2 qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 7.
Windsong Jack will begin defence of his Gold Final title on Sept. 22 at Mohawk Racetrack, with the Gold Final slated for Sept. 28.
Flamboro Downs fans will be treated to another round of Gold Series action Sept. 21 and 28 as the two-year-old pacing fillies make their way to the Dundas oval for the fourth event of their season.
For complete results please go to Flamboro Downs Results — September 15, 2012