By James Witherite

MILTON, Ont., Oct. 12, 2024 – Despite some early anxious moments, Paquet overcame a tough trip to live up to his 1-5 billing in Saturday’s $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Jody Jamieson floated Paquet forward into midfield as Myretirementdream forged clear from Post 7 through a :13.2 first eighth and Masstercraft attacked from deeper on the track, only to be parked through :28 and :56.3 sectionals. With the outer flow jammed up in front of him, Paquet had no window to brush forward up the backstretch and instead was forced to circle the tiring Masstercraft on the far turn.

“I didn’t want to be three-wide on the last turn after having strangled him the first three-eighths,” said Jamieson, who pushed Paquet second-over on the far turn and swung him three-wide with five-sixteenths to go.

After What About Elmo, who took over on the backstretch, hit three-quarters in 1:25.3, Paquet lifted gradually into the lead off the home turn and drew clear steadily to win by the better part of five lengths in 1:54.3. What About Elmo held second over Myretirementdream.

“This horse was just rude tonight,” Jamieson quipped. “I’m surprised he won — when the gate called us, he was galloping, rooting his head. But he’s so talented, he overcame it. I’m very happy that we won, but we’ve got some work to do. He doesn’t have much experience.”

After not racing as a two-year-old, Paquet has won four of seven races in his sophomore season and banked $315,265 for trainer Carl Jamieson, who shares ownership with the Estate of Brian Paquet, 1140545 Ontario Ltd., and Douglas Good.

The Muscle Mass-Darjeeling colt paid $2.40 to win.

FEATURED PHOTO: Paquet winning the 2024 OSS Gold Super Final race for three-year-old trotting colts on Oct. 12, 2024 at Woodbine Mohawk Park (Clive Cohen/New Image Media)