Canadian record for Forbidden Trade

from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Elora, ON — Canadian racing history was rewritten at Grand River Raceway for the second time this season as Ontario’s top 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings gathered at the Elora oval for Gold Series action on Monday evening (Sept. 24).

NCJ Photography

Bob McClure piloted Forbidden Trade to a 1:56.4 track, Ontario Sires Stakes and Canadian record for 2-year-old trotting colts on a half-mile track.

Five of the six top-ranked trotters in the division squared off in the second $49,896 Gold division and delivered a performance worthy of the pre-race hype. Fan favorite Dream Nation went straight to the front from post one and led the field of six to a :28.3 opening quarter. Coming off the second turn driver Bob McClure moved Forbidden Trade into the outer lane from fourth and the pair pressed Dream Nation through a :59.1 half and a 1:27.3 three-quarters. Matching strides turning for home, Dream Nation and Forbidden Trade battled all the way to the wire with Forbidden Trade getting a neck in front in 1:56.4. Southwind Avenger finished third.

The 1:56.4 mile was a track, Ontario Sires Stakes and Canadian record for Forbidden Trade. The previous OSS and Canadian record for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings on a half-mile track was 1:57.4, set by Daylon Magician at Flamboro Downs in 2010. In August 2-year-old pacing colt Stag Party also lowered the track, OSS and Canadian record in a Gold Series event at Grand River.

“I was very impressed tonight, the way he did that, you know, first over. He never quit,” said trainer Luc Blais. “He trained good this week, and I had a good feeling for tonight, but I knew we had a big division, there were lots of good horses in that race.”

Bob McClure piloted the son of Kadabra and former OSS star Pure Ivory to the win for Blais and owner Determination of Montreal, Quebec. In seven lifetime starts Forbidden Trade, a $110,000 yearling purchase, now has five wins, three of them in Gold Series action, and sits atop the division standings with 158 points.

“He’s been that good all year,” said McClure. “I thought he was one of the best colts, if not the best, all year. He hasn’t done much wrong this year. Every week he’s coming late, coming late, coming late, and I don’t think I’ve seen him get tired yet.”

McClure was back in the Ontario Sires Stakes winner’s circle after the third $50,512 division with Only For Justice, who went straight to the front from post four and never relinquished the lead on the way to a 1:57.3 personal best. Fan favorite Fingals Wave and Gold Edition were seven lengths back in second and third.

Dany Fontaine trains Only For Justice for owner-breeder Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc. of Montreal, Quebec. The win was the Justice Hall son’s third straight, coming on the heels of a pair of victories in the second leg and final of the Quebec Breeders Cup at Hippodrome Trois-Rivieres. With breaks in two of his three previous Gold Series starts, Only For Justice has accumulated 58 points and currently sits ninth in the points race. The top 10 point earners will advance to the C$225,000 Super Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Oct. 13.

“He wants to race. He gets around a half so handy and he can leave the gate so fast, this place is his bread and butter,” said McClure. “He’s a very fast horse though. He deserves to be in the Super Final for sure.”

The trotting colts set the speed bar high right from the start Monday as Knight Angel and driver Sylvain Filion equaled the previous 2-year-old trotting colt and gelding record with a 1:58.1 effort in the first $50,512 division. Fan favorite Royal Rob took early command and led the field to a :29.2 quarter and 1:00 half before feeling the pressure from Knight Angel. The colts dueled through a 1:29.1 three-quarters before Knight Angel dug in to catch the leader by a neck in the stretch. While Your Up was four lengths back in third.

Shane Arsenault trains Knight Angel for his partners Justin Fisher, Gary Leeming and Guiseppe Masciao. The win was the first in six starts for the son of Archangel and Dream Taker, who struggled with breaks throughout the early stages of his career. With one win and two seconds in Gold action, Knight Angel moved into fourth spot in the standings with one regular season event remaining.

The 2-year-old trotting colts will make their fifth and final regular season Gold Series appearance at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Oct. 4.

Grand River Raceway wraps up its 2018 season this Wednesday (Sept. 26) with the National Driving Championship. Post time for Wednesday’s program is 6:30 p.m.

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