by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — Cumin First made it a perfect four-for-four on Monday night (August 4) as she captured the C$120,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

Wayne Henry sent Daylon Mystique to the early lead as the freshman lasses left the gate, with Magical Debut (Trevor Ritchie) in tow — but Magical Debut made a break as the fillies rounded the first turn in a sluggish :28.3 first quarter.

New Image Media photo

Cumin First was a 1:58.1 winner in the OSS Gold Final.

Rick Zeron clearly judged the pace a little pedestrian as he hustled Cumin First to the front by the half-mile marker in :59.2, fending off Easter Bonnet and Guy Gagnon and accelerating away from Daylon Mystique, who self-destructed in the stretch.

Cumin First trotted all alone under the wire in a new career best clocking of 1:58.1, while Elusive Desire (Jody Jamieson) stepped up for second and Easter Bonnet rallied for third.

Cumin First, a daughter of Striking Sahbra out of Look Whos Cumin, won the first OSS Gold Final of the series at Flamboro Downs on July 20 and hasn’t looked back.

Frank O’Reilly, who trains Cumin First for Mary Anne Lauzon, Dr. Ruth Irving, Jim Fielding, and John Jesson, commented, “Fillies like this aren’t made, they’re born. We’re lucky to have her. Whenever you call on her, she answers.

“You’re always concerned because it’s a baby making her fourth start. But even taking her out of her stall tonight, she knew she was coming here to do battle. She’s a smart filly. She was a little keener tonight, but she’s going to need that — there are tougher races coming up.”

In the C$20,000 OSS Gold Consolation, favorite Stonebridge Diva and Randy Waples delivered by a half-length in 1:57.3. Doug Brown piloted Paycheck Lavec to rush up and capture the place spot, while game longshot Pajama Land held on for third after pacesetting for much of the mile.

Stonebridge Diva is owned by Angie Stiller and Robert Kauffman, and is trained by Gro Formia. This was the second start, and first win, for the daughter of Angus Hall, out of the Supergill mare Velvia.

Automatic Slims on auto-pilot in Dream Maker Final

Automatic Slims defeated a fivesome of entries from the barn of Carl Jamieson in the C$54,500 final of the Dream Maker Series for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Carl Jamieson, in a rare race appearance, went to the lead off the gate with Pence Hanover, but son Jody cleared to the lead at the quarter pole with Artists Rally and set early fractions of :28.3 and :57.1. Mark MacDonald attacked with Automatic Slims and took command as the field flashed past the half-mile marker, and rebuffed a challenge from Evening Job (Randy Waples) on the outside, before opening up coming out of the final turn and sprinting away to a three length lead.

Jamieson and Artists Rally made a late rush in deep stretch, but it wasn’t enough to catch Automatic Slims, who went under the wire in a new lifetime best clocking of 1:53. Fellow Jamieson entry Chief Of The Beach, with Paul MacDonell, was third.

Automatic Slims, a son of Bettor’s Delight-Natchitoches (by Artsplace), hangs his harness bag in the barn of Erv Miller. He has been no worse than second in four career starts for owner Domenic Chiaravalle.

“He’s a nice colt,” said MacDonald. “He’s got real push-button speed and he can carry it a long way too. He’s a very intelligent horse, very smart. You can do anything with him, take him back or push to the front with him.

“I was just trying to keep him out of trouble tonight.”