by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Cash For Gold and Bourbon Bay came away with second leg victories in the General Brock Series on Monday night (Feb. 9) at Woodbine.

A group of 17 trotters were split into two $14,400 divisions for the second round of the three-week series.

The second division featured a matchup between both winners from the first leg, Bourbon Bay and Severus Hanover.

The race got off to a hot start, as Bourbon Bay grabbed the early lead, but Severus Hanover sprinted up on the outside to clear to the front at the opening quarter in :26.4. Bourbon Bay and driver Mike Saftic quickly moved back to the lead and posted a half-mile time of :56.2.

After reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3, Bourbon Bay stretched out his lead to several lengths in the stretch and cruised home to an impressive 4-1/2 length victory in 1:54.3. I’llseeuincourt rallied to finish second, while Tellmehowyoulikeit took the show spot. Severus Hanover faded back to finish seventh.

A 4-year-old son of Sand Vic, Bourbon Bay is now two-for-two since moving north of the border into the Mike Sinclair barn. The gelding trotter is leased by John Cumming Jr. and now has a record of three wins from five starts in 2015. The clocking of 1:54.3 is a new lifetime mark for Bourbon Bay.

Bourbon Bay returned $3 to win and will now have a chance at a General Brock Series sweep next week.

In the first division of the evening, Cash For Gold made a second-quarter move to the lead and it was lights out from there. Trained and driven by Michael Vanderkemp, Cash For Gold, the 6-5 favorite, got away in third, but made a quick move down the backstretch to overtake the lead from the second choice Bags For All at the half in :58.

After an easy third quarter of :30.1, Cash For Gold was able to sprint home in :28 and score a two length victory over Bags For All. Stuarts Dynasty got up for third.

The round two victory gave Cash For Gold his first win from four starts in 2015. The 4-year-old son of Cash Hall was coming off a third-place finish in a first leg division last week. Owned by Sonja Booth, Cash For Gold now has three career victories and earnings exceeding $51,000. Monday evening’s clocking of 1:56.1 lowered his lifetime mark by a fifth of a second. A $2 win ticket on Cash For Gold returned $4.70.

The C$50,800 General Brock Series final will take place next Monday (Feb. 16).