Milton, ON — The unofficial start to Ontario’s summer was last weekend, on Victoria Day, but the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold season officially got underway on a beautiful Monday night (May 30) at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a pair of C$101,300 3-year-old trotting colt divisions.

All eyes were on the two division favorites, Duly Resolved and Twin B Archie, with both 2-year-old stars looking to replicate their OSS success as sophomores.

Duly Resolved won by two lengths in 1:54.1. New Image Media photo.

Duly Resolved, who hadn’t found the winner’s circle in two starts this season, was sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the opening Gold division of the evening. The son of Resolve blasted to the early lead from the seven post and proved to be the class of the field for trainer and co-owner John Bax.

“Everything went to plan, and I was pretty happy with the way it set up,” said Bax. “Nobody gave him any grief, so that was the way it was supposed to happen.”

Hall of Famer Paul MacDonnell piloted the gelding to an opening panel of :27.4 and a half-mile time of :56.4. No one in the field put forth a major challenge, and he won by two lengths in 1:54.1.

Bax and co-owners David Hudson, Don Allensen, and Gaelic Stable will now turn their attention to the Goodtimes Trot on Pepsi North America Cup night. The C$240,000 race is named after a lifetime winner of over C$2.2 million, who was trained by Bax.

“The Goodtimes is definitely where we’re looking next,” said Bax. “I’d love to hand the trophy to myself.”

Tymal Tiggs, driven by Louis-Phillipe Roy, trailed the entire way to finish second. Evil Guy rounded out the top three for trainer-driver duo Shannon and Trevor Henry.

In the second Gold division of the evening it was Archangel son Twin B Archie’s turn to prove he was up to the task, going off as the heavy 1-9 favorite. However, Esplosione and driver Jody Jamieson had other ideas.

The gelding from Kadabra’s second last racing crop settled into fifth early on and found a second up trip to put himself into position heading into the stretch.

“I was behind the favorite early which is right where I wanted to be,” said Jamieson. “When he vacated that spot and went to the lead, it left me thinking I was going to be first up, but the trip worked out. I just had to be a little more patient.”

Owned by Melvin Hartman and Enzed Racing Stable, Esplosione closed in a final panel of :27.2 to beat Twin B Archie by a neck. Camilla Christoforou trainee Safe Conduct finished third.

“He should have been third by rights,” said Jamieson. “But he dug in to win. I was really impressed with the horse.”

It was the third career Gold division win for Esplosione, and a in career best mark of 1:53.4. The Meg Crone trainee will also target the Goodtimes as his next outing.

“He’s very consistent,” said Crone. “He can race off the front, or off a helmet, and he’s so smart it helps a lot. He never gets hot. I think he’ll be one of the top contenders the rest of the year.”

Gold action returns to the Milton oval next Monday with the opening leg for 3-year-old pacing fillies.