Jamieson charges dominate in Upper Canada Cup elims

Jody Jamieson departed Georgian Downs on Saturday evening a wanted man.  No fewer than three of the favourites in next week’s $472,500(C) Upper Canada Cup will be seeking his driving services.

 

“Everybody’s got problems,” smiled Jamieson, driving bag in hand, “but these are the kind you want to have.”

 

Each of Jamieson’s charges in the three Upper Canada Cup eliminations on Saturday posted terrific efforts: Twin B Warrior and Haul Away courageous in victory; BP Chimo equally courageous in narrow defeat.

 

“I really believe that I’ve got the best three horses in next week’s final. We’ll see how they draw, but I’ve really got a dilemma to chew on.”

 

A dilemma thickened by a post draw that saw all three nab premier starting positions.

 

In the first $25,000 elimination, driver Mario Baillargeon got the better of Jamieson in deep stretch, tipping off his back to score a three-quarter length victory with Adrenaline in 1:51.3.  Both charges found safety in an outside trip when the pace set by Keystone Raptor and Red Bugler deteriorated in the final quarter. A son of Mach Three, Adrenaline returned $12.50 as the longest priced of the three elimination winners. He’s owned by Albina Montini, Paul Giammichele and Rama Bawa.  Broadies Song in rein to Scott Zeron came from last to finish third.

 

Although a convincing winner in the second elimination, Haul Away gave chalk players fits en route to a 1:52.2 victory. Jamieson allowed his charge to settle behind a testing early pace, then angled the son of Modern Art into the second-over position prior to the half-mile point.  A 3-5 favorite, Haul Away was slow to gear up and gapped cover for more than a sixteenth-of-a-mile before catching Mach Dreamer’s draft. Around the far turn, Jamieson deployed the gelding’s earplugs and asked for acceleration only to be met by an abrupt right turn. Haul Away quickly righted himself and rallied for an in-hand victory. Grin For Money swept the field in the stretch to finish second, while leader P L Dangerous hung on to complete a popular $77.50 triactor.

 

The fleetest and arguably the finest of the evening’s winners was Twin B Warrior in the final elimination. The Apaches Fame gelding left little to chance moving aggressively to the lead at the three-eighths mile pole and throwing down blazing splits to post a 1:51.1 mile. Owned by Mac Nichol and trained by Jeff Gillis, the defending OSS Grassroots champion had never finished worse than second, but certainly faced his toughest test on Saturday. Battle of Waterloo champ Wellthereyougo was a battle-tested second, while Golden Terror threaded his way through competitors to finish third.

 

The top three finishers in each elimination earned starting berths in next Saturday’s Upper Canada Cup final. The race will headline an outstanding program filled with pomp and pageantry. The starting assignments appear below: