from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Gloucester, ON — Rideau Carleton Raceway fans were treated to an impressive display of speed and skill as the Ontario Sires Stakes arrived in the nation’s capital on Sunday evening (Aug. 13).

With almost C$250,000 on the line all six Gold and Grassroots winners recorded new personal bests, Try Try Again established a new speed record for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, and the reigning Lampman Cup champion, Sylvain Filion, captured two Gold Series divisions and four overnight events.

Try Try Again opened the Gold Series competition in the evening’s second race and the fans’ second choice delivered a commanding front-end performance that saw him lower the track record to 1:54.4. Magic Night finished 1-1/2 lengths back in second while Life Well Lived was well behind the leaders in third.

“He got off the gate well in third, I moved him to the front and he was very strong from there,” said Try Try Again’s regular reinsman Chris Christoforou Jr. “He was very good tonight.”

Christoforou engineered the mile for trainer Dustin Jones and his partners Ecuries Daniel Plouffe Inc., Noblock Racing Stable and Andrea Lea Racing Stables Inc. The clocking took three-fifths of a second off the former track record for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, set by Ontario sired superstar Arch Madness in a 2007 Gold Series contest, and lowered Try Try Again’s personal best by two-fifths of a second.

With two wins and one second in three Gold Series starts, the son of Kadabra and Sweetspellosuccess currently sits second in the division standings with 125 points and is assured of a berth in the C$225,000 Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack on Oct. 14.

Filion piloted the winners of the other two Gold Series divisions, taking the first with LMC Mass Gem and the second with Capteur De Reve.

Starting from post four, LMC Mass Gem led from start to finish, sailing across the wire in a personal best 1:55. Mister Muscle was 1-1/4 lengths back in second, with Head Turning Jag two more lengths behind in third.

With two wins and two thirds in four Gold Series starts, LMC Mass Gem sits third, just one point behind Try Try Again, in the division standings. Nick Gallucci trains the homebred son of Muscle Mass and Hornby Gem for Loredana Cirillo.

Capteur De Reve enjoyed a ground-saving trip behind pacesetter On First in the last Gold division, tipping out in the stretch and trotting home to a one length victory in a personal best 1:56.1. On First settled for second and Try Try Again’s stablemate Northern Major rounded out the top three.

Filion crafted the win for trainer Max Velaye and Ecuries Provoquante. It was the Muscle Mass son’s second win of the season and came in his 2017 Ontario Sires Stakes debut.

Euro Gap posted the fastest win of the three Grassroots divisions, sprinting down the Rideau Carleton Raceway stretch to a 1:55.4 personal best ahead of Yo Yo Mass and Santini. Trevor Henry piloted Euro Gap to the victory, his first in Ontario Sires Stakes action.

“He looked good today. Trevor (Henry) said he was really good,” said trainer Scott McEneny, who had to watch the gelding’s winning effort on his phone after a delayed flight saw him arrive in Ottawa just 10 minutes before post time. “He’s got a lot of talent; he’s just had his days. His gait’s not the best, he’s a little pacey, and sometimes the track just doesn’t suit him because of his feet.”

McEneny conditions Euro Gap for his wife Michelle McEneny, Brad Grant and Teresa Davidson. The win was the third lifetime for the son of Manofmanymissions, who has also made two appearances at the Gold Series level this season.

The other two Grassroots divisions went to Federal Flex son Bred For Greatness and Manofmanymissions son Vesuvio Bi, who trotted under the wire in 1:58.2 and 1:56.4, respectively.

Bred For Greatness reeled in Radical Road and Motown Jackpot in the stretch to score his first lifetime victory for driver Bob McClure, trainer Shane Weber and owner-breeders Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin, while Vesuvio Bi took command at the half and sailed home a 3-1/4 length winner over Short Term Memory and Masster Blue. Travis Henry drove Vesuvio Bi to the win for trainer Martin Lachance and owners Lachance Racing Stable and Dan Mogridge.

The Grassroots colts and geldings will now head to Hanover Raceway on Aug. 26 for the fifth event of their season, while the Gold Series competitors make their last regular season start at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 25.

Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (Sept. 10) when the 2-year-old pacing fillies will compete in their last regular season Grassroots event.