Ritchie golden in OSS

Trevor Ritchie steered home both elimination winners in Friday night’s Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Woodbine Racetrack. It is the final Gold event of the season in this division.

In the opening split, Ritchie teamed up with the chestnut Zorgwijk Kingpin and the pair scored a decisive first-over win in 1:59. The gelded son of Southwind Lustre - Zorgwijk Amarillis turned back Text Me and Higher and Higher as the $4.40 top choice in the wagering.

It was the third win in just eight starts this season for the $3,700 yearling purchase who is trained by Ronnie MacLean and bumped his seasonal bankroll to just over $143,000. MacLean shares ownership of the trotter with Murray Neilson, Scot Wood and Joseph Serratore.

Ritchie captured the second elimination with Grumpy Jake in an identical clocking of 1:59. The son of Striking Sahbra - Elegance Angus got away third in the early stages before moving to the front in the second quarter and holding off a late rally from Ja El Express. Keystone Swagger came on late to grab the show spot.

It was the third win 11 starts for the Mike Guitard trainee who returned $5.80 for the win. The lion’s share of the purse bumped his bankroll to just over $109,000 for the Haryott Stables Inc. of Etobicoke, Ont.

In addition to next weekend’s $130,000 OSS Gold Final, both winners are eligible to the $300,000 OSS Super Final which goes postward on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Woodbine.(WEG)

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