by Greg Gangle – WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — A pair of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations for 2-year-old trotting colts took place tonight at Mohawk Racetrack with Buckhams Bay and Imperial Count finding the winners circle, both with career best efforts.

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Buckhams Bay won his OSS Gold elim in 1:57.

Buckhams Bay blasted to the front and never looked back as Hall of Fame driver Jacques Hebert controlled the tempo with fractions of :28, 58.1, 1:28 and used final quarter speed of :29 to be victorious in 1:57.

Sim Brown (Randy Waples) used first-over tactics around the final turn to finish second while Delcrest Julian (Anothony MacDonald) used a ground saving trip to complete the tractor.

Woodlawn, Ontario resident John Smith trains Buckhams Bay for Courant AB of Halmstad, Sweden, who purchased the colt from Smith in early August.

Buckhams Bay remains first in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold point standings and has secured his berth in the C$300,000 OSS Super Final at Woodbine Racetrack on November 13.

Buckhams Bay has recorded only one career defeat in seven appearances, good for earnings of $265,000.

Attorney Hanover (Luc Ouellette) was quickest off the gate in the second elimination from post eight flashing first quarter speed of :28 with Imperial Count (Steve Condren) getting away in second.

As the field marched towards the half, Imperial Count took over command but Big Strike (Brad Kramer), who was positioned third, tried for the lead but could not advance on the son of Angus Hall.

As Imperial Count took his rivals past the three-quarters in 1:27.3, Air Stewart (Randy Waples) had to go three-wide around Big Strike but came up short in the late stages of the mile as Imperial Strike was victorious by a neck stopping the clock in 1:57.2. Tymal Colossus (Mark MacDonald) was third.

Imperial Count increased his freshman earnings to $154,740 for trainer Kevin O’Reilly and owner Neven Botica of Perth, Australia.

Imperial Count also has secured his berth in the C$300,000 OSS Super Final as he is currently sitting second in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold point standings behind Buckhams Bay.

The C$130,000 final goes to post next Thursday at Woodbine Racetrack in the following order:

1) Attorney Hanover
2) Air Stewart
3) Tymal Colossus
4) Delcrest Julian
5) Edit
6) Plato
7) Sim Brown
8) Imperial Count
9) Buckhams Bay
10) Max Money
AE1) Calipari