Ottawa, ON — Sophomore pacing colts descended on Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (Aug. 16) to compete in two $78,600 Ontario Sire Stakes Gold Series divisions and in spite of a drenching rain, the colts put on an impressive show.

Sunday’s Gold divisions served as a final North America Cup tune-up for top ranked Tattoo Artist and Beaumond Hanover and both colts look ready to take on the continent’s best in the Aug. 22 eliminations.

In the first Gold split Tattoo Artist and driver Bob McClure cruised through fractions of :27.2, :55 and 1:23.1 on their way to a 1:50.4 victory, two lengths ahead of Beach Blanket Book. Bettorbuckleup was three more lengths back in third.

One race later Beaumond Hanover and driver Jody Jamieson laid down a :27.4 quarter, :55.2 half and 1:23.2 three-quarters on their way to a 1:50.2 clocking, matching the Rideau Carleton Raceway track record for sophomore pacing colts and geldings. Aneto finished 2-3/4 lengths back in second and Tattoo Artist’s stablemate Denali Seelster was four more lengths back in third.

“It’s making for quite a story. I don’t know how those two draw apart from each other all the time,” said Dr. Ian Moore, who trains Tattoo Artist. “But anyway, they are two nice colts. Those are wicked miles both of those two went tonight.”

Yet to face each other in Gold Series competition, Tattoo Artist and Beaumond Hanover are both three-for-three in the provincial program this season. While Beaumond Hanover was the quicker over Rideau Carleton Raceway’s five-eighths-mile, which was rated one second slower than normal due to the rain, Tattoo Artist has the edge on the Woodbine Mohawk Park seven-eighths, winning the July 4 Gold Series opener in 1:48.2.

Moore conditions Tattoo Artist for Frank Cannon and Let It Ride Stables. In addition to his trio of Gold Series victories, the He’s Watching son also has a pair of wins in overnight action on his resume this season and has not been bested since his June 6 sophomore debut. At two, Tattoo Artist won a Grassroots division, two Gold legs and the season ending Super Final in an eight race campaign.

Jack Darling owns and trains Beaumond Hanover, who missed out on his freshman Ontario Sires Stakes season due to an injury. Since making his debut last fall, the son of Sportswriter has posted nine wins in 12 starts. Like Tattoo Artist, he has a pair of overnight wins to his credit this season and has not been collared since late June. Unlike Tattoo Artist, he had never ventured away from Woodbine Mohawk Park and that fact caused Darling a few moments of concern on Sunday.

“I was a little nervous because he was pretty worked up tonight, just being in a different environment and all the new surroundings. He was a handful to get calmed down and get him warmed up, but it didn’t seem to hurt him in the race,” said Darling. “He’s just kind of a superior animal.”

Both colts will have a few days rest before beginning preparations for the North America Cup eliminations at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Aug. 22.