by Greg Blanchard. WEG Media

Toronto, ON — Haul Away captured his second consecutive Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final for rookie pacing colts with a sharp closing rally on Saturday night (Oct. 10) at Woodbine Racetrack for driver Jody Jamieson.

The gelded son of Modern Art-Armbro Reno got away fifth in the early going and watched as elimination winner Grin For Money blasted to command from the outside post 10 in a first quarter of :27.3. That son of Grinfromeartoear garnered respect in the second quarter and went unchallenged through an opening half of :56.2.

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Haul Away won the OSS Gold Final for 2-year-old colt pacers in a time of 1:53.

As the field entered the far turn, B P Chimo, last week’s other elimination winner, made the first move to the outside from fourth position and prompted the pacesetter through three-quarters in 1:24.4.

As the field turned for home, Grin For Money began to tire and drift wide. That left a seam at the inside for pocket-sitting Keystone Raptor who began to close. Meanwhile, Jamieson was also able to find daylight with Haul Away on the outside and the strapping pacer came storming past rivals for the win in a time of 1:53. Keystone Raptor managed the place spot with Western Thorn rounding out the top three. The winner returned a generous $16.20 for the win.

It was the sixth win in 10 starts this season for Haul Away and the third in four starts since being purchased by current owners Larry Menary, Denis Breton, Phil Silvestri and Joseph Settimi and moved into the care of David Menary. The winner’s share of the purse boosted his seasonal earnings to just over C$183,000.

The victory, which came on the heels of a Gold Final win at Rideau Carleton Raceway, also solidified Haul Away’s position in the top 10 in the OSS point standings, insuring a spot in the C$300,000 Super Finals on November 14 at Woodbine.

Ideal Race wins 3-year-old colt pace final

Ideal Race used an eye-catching off-the-pace rally to post a 26-1 upset in the C$130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

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Ideal Race scored in a time of 1:52 in the OSS Gold Final for sophomore pacing colts.

Luc Ouellette engineered the winning trip from post three with the son of Western Terror-Eidette Hanover who got away sixth in the early stages in the field of 10. Ideal Race watched as Primary Purpose and Shipps Xpectancy exchanged leads through an opening half in :55.1.

Mild Mannered started the outside flow in the third quarter, followed by race favorite Fast Pay with Ideal Race following third-over as the field entered the far turn. Ideal Race was still sixth on the outside, and five lengths off the lead, as the third marker came up in 1:23.4.

As the field turned for home, Fast Pay tipped three-wide and was expected to surge past, but came up flat for driver Paul MacDonell. Ideal Race was full of pace, however, and exploded off that one’s back to win by 1-1/4 lengths at the finish in a time of 1:52. One More Drink weaved through traffic late to pick up the place spot with Stonebridge Terror rounding out the top three.

Ideal Race returned a whopping $54.30 for the win.

It was the sixth win in 17 trips postward this season for the Tracy Brainard pupil who is owned by Bulletproof Enterprises. The winner’s share of the purse boosted his career bankroll to just over C$174,000.

The win also helped secure a spot in the C$300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final which takes place on November 14 at Woodbine.