Laddie wins, San Pail ties Canadian mark

After finishing fourth in his Goodtimes elimination and consolation in his first two starts of the year, the 2006 William Wellwood Memorial winner Laddie notched his first victory of 2007 with a career-best 1:55.4 effort in one of three Ontario Sire Stakes Gold elims for 3-year-old colt trotters at Kawartha Downs Tuesday.

Although Laddie’s first win as a sophomore was significant, it was overshadowed by San Pail’s 1:54.4 victory which equaled Majestic Son’s Canadian record for 3-year-old male trotters over a five-eighths mile oval.

Driven by Trevor Ritchie, San Pail led wire to wire through fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:25.4 before crossing the wire 2 ½ lengths in front of his peers. Mark Steacy trains the son of San Pellegrino, who was unraced at two but has now won three times at three. San Pail is owned by Glenn Van Camp and Rodney Hughes.

Laddie, voted the O’Brien Award as the best of his division in Canada last year, rallied late to draw clear to a two-length victory for driver Paul MacDonell and trainer Paula Wellwood. The son of Angus Hall is owned by Wellwood Stables.

The third OSS Gold elim went to Claudius Augustus, who trotted to a 1:55.4 score for driver Mario Baillargeon, trainer Debra Budahn and owner The Gusty Stable. The son of Angus Hall out of the $277,000-winning mare Claude’s Last Lady led gate to wire to post his seventh win in eight starts this year after being unraced last year at two.

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