Kawartha Downs hosted the first OSS Gold Series event of the season for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Thursday, with twenty-three combatants sparring in a trio of $40,000 eliminations
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Majestic Image romped to an easy victory in his pari-mutuel debut for the tandem of driver Rick Zeron and co-owner trainer Kevin O’Reilly. The son of Majestic Son-Blazingimage Dream got away third before marching first-over and brushing to the top shortly past the half. The colt was comfortably in front at the three-quarter pole in 1:30.4, and he cruised home in a :30-second clip en route to winning by 4-1/2 lengths over On Stride in 2:00.4. Tymal Oh So Nice was third.
O’Reilly shares ownership on the homebred with Frank Cirillo of Kleinburg and Chiara Longo of Mississauga, ON. Longo bred the youngster, who was sent off as the 6-5 choice in the seven-horse affair.
Prized Fighter equaled the Canadian record for a two-year-old trotting gelding on a five-eighths oval when he toured the track in 1:57.4 for driver Anthony MacDonald. The son of Duke Of York-Concher, who parked around two turns, won in going-away fashion by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:57.3 – a clocking that matched Sim Brown’s national record and erased Kawartha Downs' former track record of 1:58.1 set by Meadowview Sunny. Jake Be Nimble, who went first over, was second best while The Game Plan rallied to take home third prize.
Trainer Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh co-owns the homebred with Al Libfeld of Pickering and Steven Kazman of Thornhill, ON. The juvenile is a half-brother to Southfork (Q1:54.4 - $200,456).
Heres The Magic rallied from just off the pace to take home the hardware in the third elimination for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman. The son of Kadabra watched Ill Be There whack out splits of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:29.2 before brushing past that foe and drawing clear to win by 2-3/4 lengths over San Pietro in 1:59.1. Summer Indian grabbed the show dough.
Sent off as a 7-1 outsider, the colt won at first asking for partners David McDuffee of Delray Beach and Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, FL. The well-bred trotter is the third foal out of the multiple stakes-winner, Blackberry Hanover (1:56.2 - $209,314).
The top three finishers from each of Thursday’s eliminations will have the chance to line-up behind the starting gate in next Thursday’s final. Here’s the field:
$130,000 OSS Gold Series Final
1. On Stride
2. Tymal Oh So Nice
3. Prized Fighter
4. The Game Plan
5. Heres The Magic
6. Summer Indian
7. San Pietro
8. Majestic Image
9. Jake Be Nimble
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Kawartha Downs.