Favorites Betting Line and Magnum J golden at Mohawk
July 2, 2016,by Ontario Sire Stakes
Toronto, ON — Betting Line returned to Ontario Sires Stakes action at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday (July 3) night and the North America Cup champion powered to a 1-1/4 length Gold Series victory in 1:49.4.
Starting from post four, driver Jonathan Drury eased Betting Line away from the starting gate and settled into fourth as Nocturnal Bluechip and Sintra sprinted out to a :26.3 opening quarter. Heading for the :55.1 half, Drury and Betting Line advanced up the outside on Sintra and driver Jody Jamieson, but Jamieson put his foot on the accelerator and Drury opted to hold his position rather than battle for the front end. Sintra led the field to the 1:22.3 three-quarters, but Betting Line was able to power by the pacesetter in the stretch, leaving Sintra to settle for second. War N Munn closed hard to be third in the C$105,000 contest.
“He raced good, as he always does,” said trainer Casie Coleman of her star pupil. “JD (Drury) did a good job with him because he had a live splint bothering him and we were too close to the race to treat it.”
Coleman added that Betting Line is scheduled for a visit to the veterinarian on Monday (July 4) to treat the splint, which caused the colt to run in slightly in the stretch, and should be back in fine form for the July 23 Gold event at Mohawk.
“He’s done that (run in) to me before with splint issues,” noted the Cambridge resident. “But we’ll get it fixed up for the next Gold in three weeks’ time.”
Following the July 23 Gold Series event, the reigning Ontario Sires Stakes champion heads south of the border for the Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park on August 13 and the Battle of Brandywine at Pocono Downs on August 20.
Saturday’s victory extended Betting Line’s win streak to five, with his only loss of the season coming in his May 14 debut, where he was second. The Bettors Delight son has banked C$1,172,422 in his career to date for owners Coleman, Ross Warriner, Christine Calhoun and Mac Nichol.
Magnum J captured the other Gold Series division, controlling the tempo for much of the race before cruising home a 2-3/4 length winner in 1:51. The mile time was a new personal best for the Big Jim son. Nvestment Bluechip and Voracity finished second and third.
Doug McNair of Guelph piloted Magnum J to the win for his father, trainer Gregg McNair and his partners Tony Lawrence and William Brown. The partners also raised a Gold Series trophy in the season opener at The Raceway at Western Fair District on May 27.
With two Gold Series victories Magnum J has sole ownership of the top spot in the division standings with 100 points and will look to pad that lead when the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings return to the Campbellville oval on July 23.
On Monday (July 4) Mohawk Racetrack will kick off the Ontario Sires Stakes 2-year-old season with two Gold Series divisions for the freshman pacing colts. The newcomers to the provincial program will make their debuts in the second and third races. First race post time is 7:30 p.m.