The richest program during Western Fair Raceway’s fall meet, with $488,600 in total purses, will be contested this Saturday night and will feature two $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold finals as well as the four finals of
the Middlesex Series.
The first final to be featured is the $130,000 OSS Gold for two-year-old trotting fillies (Race 3) where Random Destiny, the leading point earner in this division, will attempt to extend her winning streak to four. The daughter of Ken Warkentin, owned by Overseas Farm Ltd., Campbellville, Ont., will leave from Post 2 for trainer Riina Rekila. She won her elimination last week by three lengths in 2:01.1.
Last week’s other elim winner, Windcross, wasn’t as fortunate in the draw and will leave from Post 7 with Steve Byron in the bike for trainer John Bax. Owned by her breeder, Wescott LLC of Wisconsin, the Striking Sahbra filly scored the first victory of her young career in her elim, as she stopped the clock in 2:01. From the former top OSS mare Wescott, Windcross is seventh in the point standings going into the final.
The rookie pacing colts will conclude the stakes action on Saturday, as they step out in Race 10 for their $130,000 OSS Gold final. Elim winner Stonebridge Tonic will leave from Post 4 with his regular pilot, Doug McNair, in the bike.
A winner of $149,019 so far this season for trainer Gregg McNair -- who co-owns with breeder Angie Stiller of Arva, Ont., Len Gamble of Etobicoke, Ont. and Artana Stables of St. Thomas, Ont. -- Stonebridge Tonic, by Camluck, recorded his first win in 11 tries during his elim when he scored by three lengths in 1:56.3.
BP Chimo, who captured the other elim last week in a slightly faster time of 1:56, drew Post 6 for the final. Phil Hudon is once again listed to drive the Grinfromeartoear colt who has three wins in nine attempts so far this year for trainer James Barton and owners Elizabeth Thompson of Branchton, Ont. and Anne O’Keefe of Ferryland, Newfoundland.
These Ontario Sires Stakes dashes are the final OSS Gold events of the season, as the top point earners will then compete in their respective $300,000 Super Finals on November 14 at Woodbine Racetrack. BP Chimo currently sits sixth in point standings, while Stonebridge Tonic is one spot above him in fifth. The leading point earner in this division, Grin For Money, has drawn Post 7 for Saturday’s final.
The Middlesex Series Finals have been carded as:
• Race 4 - $49,900 Mares Trot Final
• Race 5 - $52,300 Mares Pace Final
• Race 7 - $48,400 Horse Trot Final
• Race 9 - $49,600 Horse Pace Final
First-race post time on Saturday is 7:05 p.m.
Click here to view the harness racing entries.
(Western Fair)