Super Final stunners at Wdb

It was a rough night for the favorites in Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final action Saturday evening at Woodbine. The chalk horses survived in only two of the eight $300,000 contests. The biggest upset of all came when millionaire Majestic Son jumped it off at the start of the final for sophomore colt and gelding trotters, triggering a win by 113-1 Yorktown Gunner in 1:56.

Yorktown Gunner and Thomas Durand got away fifth in the field of 10 before racing first up and grinding out a half-length victory, his third of the season. The Balanced Image colt edged a closing Strider (28-1) to take the lion’s share of the $300,000 purse. Colonel Talbot (33-1) was third, resulting in an $84,262 trifecta payout. Majestic Son finished last.

“I’m really elated. I knew this horse would step up sooner or later,” Durand said of Yorktown Gunner in a winner’s circle interview. “I can’t put it into words; it’s shocking.”

In the first Super Final contest of the night, Jack Moiseyev picked up a late drive behind Carolyn As, parlaying the opportunity into the first upset of the night in the $300,000 final for freshman filly trotters. The veteran driver tipped his Striking Sahbra filly three-wide racing out of the turn and drew clear by two lengths in 1:58.3. J M Aggie was second for Jody Jamieson, while favorite Constance Hall finished third.

“The horse raced super tonight,” said Moiseyev, who picked up the drive when John Campbell’s flight arrived late. “Once we settled and straightened away, she took off.”

Trained by Anette Lorentzon, Carolyn As increased her record to five wins in eight starts.

Second choice Michelles Power and Mark MacDonald got the better of favorite Luck Of Michelle in the final for filly pacers, putting a nose in front in 1:53.2. It was the sixth seasonal win for the Camluck two year old bred and owned by Jeffrey Snyder. Rosapenna and Jamieson were third.

Starting from post two MacDonald settled in third with his filly as the favorite set the fractions. The winner pulled before the three-quarter pole and wore down the runner-up in the stretch.

“She’s been solid all year,” MacDonald said of the Bruce Goit-trained freshman. “She’s been just a notch behind Luck Of Michelle all year and we were a little lucky tonight.”

Beer Budget, sent off as the third choice, scored his fourth win of the year for Christopher and Johanna Beaver in the $300,000 final for two year old colt and gelding trotters Saturday evening. Luc Ouellette piloted the Yankee Paco colt to a 1:59 victory as favorite Laddie was locked in along the pylons before breaking stride and finishing eighth. Evidence As placed second and Libra Vita rounded out the trifecta.

Favorite Domitian Hanover and Campbell left from the nine hole to fourth early in the $300,000 final for freshman colt and gelding pacers before moving first up and taking control at the head of the stretch, winning by two lengths in 1:52.3. Twin B Survivor followed the winner’s cover to second and Sipwiththepres was third.

“He’s just getting stronger,” Campbell said of the Camluck colt, trained by James Dean for owners Clay Harland and Scott Homer. “I thought he’d be a horse I could use in the mile and still be around to tell about it.”

Pure Ivory and Stephen Condren grabbed the lead in the $300,000 final for sophomore filly trotters after the quarter and then held off a closing Porsche Hall and Birminghim at the wire to win in 1:56.4. The victory pushed the Striking Sahbra sophomore’s career earnings over $1 million. The post time favorite is trained by Bradley Maxwell.

“It’s just been an amazing two years and it’s not over yet,” Condren said afterward. “If everything goes okay, she’ll go straight through the end of the year.”

In Trepid Water continued the upset theme by winning the final for sophomore filly pacers in 1:52.3. Favorite Moving Pictures finished a length back in second and Draconian Promise was third. Guided by Richard Zeron, the D M Dillinger pacer collected her fifth win in 23 starts this season in wire-to-wire fashion. In Trepid Water is trained by Robert MacIntosh, who co-owns the winner with C S X Stables.

Second choice Doonbeg sprinted home in 27 seconds flat to upset Little Brown Jug champion Mr Feelgood and the rest of the sophomore colt and gelding pacers in Saturday’s Super Final, winning in 1:51.4. Eagle Luck finished three parts of a length back in second and Alastor Hanover managed third. Mr Feelgood finished fourth.

Driven by Jamieson, the Camluck colt scored his eighth win in 16 starts. He is trained by James Dean, who teamed with the driver to garner a second finals victory.

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