Rock Me Amastreos and Sparky Mark got the job done on Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack in their respective $25,000 eliminations of the Autumn Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings
, and by doing so driver Jody Jamieson has a tough decision to make going into next week’s final.
Jamieson mapped out winning trips for both pacers – an enviable position to be in with the $60,000 final coming up next Saturday evening at the Mega City oval.
Rock Me Amastreos rallied from off the pace to take the first elimination for Jamieson and trainer Murray Brethour. The son of Astreos-Queens Arms pulled off a 5-1 upset over High Bar in a time of 1:52.4. Race favourite Lucky Terror set a good portion of the pace before fading to finish third.
Bred and owned by David Snowden of Bowmanville, ON, Rock Me Amastreos improved his 2010 record to 4-0-3 in 15 starts with the win. The $12,500 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $51,010.
Jamieson then clicked with the Mark Austin-trained Sparky Mark in the second elimination. The heavily favoured son of Astreos-Luckbealadytonite parked past the quarter pole in :27.2 before laying down middle splits of :55.3 and 1:24.1. He then used a :27.3 final quarter to seal the deal in an eye-catching clocking of 1:51.4. Runner-up Smarter Yet was a half-length in arrears, with Casimir Jitterbug was a distant third.
Bred and owned by Leo Thibodeau of Windsor, ON, Sparky Mark got his picture taken for the fourth time this season while extending his winning streak to three-in-a-row. The six-time winner now boasts $71,890 in career earnings.
The $60,000 final of the Autumn Stakes for the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings goes next Saturday evening at Woodbine Racetrack. Here’s how they’ll line up on the starting gate:
$60,000 Autumn Stakes Final
1. Four Js Rustler
2. Lucky Terror
3. Sparky Mark
4. Rock Me Amastreos
5. Casimir Jitterbug
6. Political Terror
7. Smarter Yet
8. High Bar
9. Longn Winding Road
10. Lavish Grin
To view Saturday’s results, click here.