Hibbler now perfect in three with OSS Gold victory

Hibbler made it three for three Monday night at Mohawk as he captured the $120,000(C) Ontario Sire Stakes Gold final for 2-year-old trotting colts.

Hibbler and driver Rick Zeron slipped into a comfortable third spot as Mopey Corey and Anthony MacDonald left sharply for the early lead, with Lemon Candy and Jody Jamieson close behind. Jamieson didn’t linger, sending Lemon Candy to take command by a first quarter in :28.2, with Mopey Corey tucking in on Jamieson’s helmet through much of the mile.

As the field swung into the far turn, Hibbler moved off cover and began to chip away at Lemon Candy, catching him in the stretch and opening up a comfortable 3 3/4-length lead. He crossed the wire in 1:57.3, almost three full seconds better than Hibbler’s previous best time, with Mopey Corey in second and At The Gate (Trevor Ritchie) stepping up for third in a photo. Favorite Lemon Candy, faded to fourth.

Murray Weber of Putnam, Ont., co-owns and trains Hibbler, a son of Striking Sahbra who was a bargain $12,000 yearling purchase at last year’s Harrisburg sale. The win has already pushed the undefeated colt’s earnings to $90,000 in three lifetime starts.

Mohawk also presented a $20,000 OSS Gold consolation final for 2-year-old trotters. Mr. Escadar and Luc Ouellette rode the pocket, then accelerated past Winning Mister to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:57 for trainer Chris Beaver.

It was the first win in six tries for the brown son of Mr Lavec, who is a homebred owned by Hubert Wick of Warsaw, N.Y. (WEG)

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