from Windsor Raceway Publicity Department

The second tier couldn’t stop him. The sloppy track didn’t slow him down. It was immaterial that the weather conditions prevented his regular driver from arriving for the race.

All those factors combined to do was give Four Starzz King the opportunity to show everyone at Windsor Raceway why the three-year-old gelding pacer has won more than $200,000 already this year.

With Richie Silverman pinch-hitting for usual reinsman Michel Lachance, who was unable to get a flight to Windsor due to the stormy weather conditions, Four Starzz King rambled through the rain around Windsor’s sloppy five-eighths mile track to win the first of Sunday’s three C$25,000 Provincial Cup eliminations in a time of 1:52.

Despite starting from the second tier in the 10 hole, Four Starzz King, a C$17,500 supplemental entry to the race, found the front end quickly and never relented, posting his eighth win in 11 starts and pushing his earnings for the year to $218,275 for trainer Dave Sabatelli and owners the F.S. Starzz Stables Inc. of Hauepauge, N.Y.

Rogue Hall and Whodunit also advanced to the C$466,000 final, slated for Sunday, May 30.

Quik Pulse Mindale, whose handlers also paid the C$17,500 supplemental fee to gain entry into the race, captured the second heat, also in 1:52. The Chicago-based colt made a big move down the backstretch to gain the lead in rein to Tony Morgan. Purchased just three weeks ago for a reported $200,000 by Lloyd and Nancy Arnold of Hartley, Del., Quik Pulse Mindale is unbeaten in four starts this year and owns six wins in seven career starts. The son of 1995 Provincial Cup winner Jenna’s Beach Boy shows 2004 earnings of $11,600 under the tutelage of trainer Mike Arnold.

Armbro Brando and Magical GG, the local hope co-owned by Windsorites Sam Burgio and George Giorgi, also advanced from this heat.

There was a huge upset in the third division, as the betting favorite, Berry’s Creek winner Brandons Cowboy, failed to advance to the final, finishing fifth. Georgia Pacific, in rein to 60-year-old driver Richard Stillings, drove away from the field at the top of the stretch to win in 1:52 1/5 for trainer Randy Bendis. Co-owned by Bendis, Susan Castelli, William Varney and John F. Campbell, all from Maine, Georgia Pacific won for the first time in six 2004 starts. Sired by 1992 Provincial Cup winner Western Hanover, the sophomore gelding pushed his career earnings to $143,114.

Osage Hanover and Armbro Balmoral also moved into the final from this heat.

Mypanmar, the fourth-place finisher in the second division, will serve as the first also eligible for Sunday’s final. Our Lucky Killean, fourth in the first elimination, will be the second also eligible.