from The Raceway at Western Fair District Media Relations

London, ON — Several other stakes finals were highlighted on Friday night’s (May 25) Molson Pace card at The Raceway at Western Fair District including the first Ontario Sires Stakes Gold final of the 2012 season and four City of London Series events.

Il Mago established a new track record for 3-year-old trotting colts with an impressive under-wraps performance in the C$130,000 OSS final. Trevor Ritchie and the son of Kadabra left from the rail and never gave up that advantageous position through fractions of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:27.2.

Iron Horse photo

Il Mago captured the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold final in a track record performance for Trevor Ritchie.

By the third panel he had company in the form of favorite Cold Certified but he was able to trot away from that rival to reach the wire easily in 1:56.3. Cold Certified was second followed by Keystone Orion.

“Obviously drawing the rail was key and he got out of there good, behaved himself around the first turn. Once everyone got tucked away and I got a bit of a breather I was pretty happy with his performance,” said Ritchie.

A winner of his elimination last week, Il Mago is now a perfect two for two this year for trainer Rod Boyd and owners Chris Alexander Stables and Mark Harder. A winner of C$170,710 last year at two, the colt now sports earnings of C$255,710.

The first City of London final was the C$53,800 race for male trotters which saw favorite Hey AJ and Trevor Henry lead the way through fractions of :29, 1:00.1 and 1:31.3. However he could not hold off a late charging P C Firecracker who benefited from a crafty first up steer by Curtis Clements to win in 2:00.2. Hey AJ was right there for second followed by R Baby Q.

It was the seventh win in eight lifetime starts and a new life mark for P C Firecracker, a 3-year-old gelding by Amigo Hall co-owned by breeder and trainer Peter Clements and Amy Clements.

In the C$57,400 City of London final for filly and mare trotters, Daylon Miracle managed to keep her unbeaten record intact but she worked hard to do so. Leaving from post six Dave Wall fired Daylon Miracle towards the top but she couldn’t get by Cynthia Loo. That pair were neck and neck to the opening quarter in :27.4 before Wall tucked Daylon Miracle into the garden spot.

Cynthia Loo, under pressure throughout, hit the half in :58.3 and the three-quarters in 1:28.1. Around the final turn Wall had Daylon Miracle three wide and she hauled down her rivals to win in 1:59.1. In a close battle for second Cynthia Loo prevailed over Real Housewife.

A half-sister to millionaire Daylon Magician, the winner is a 3-year-old Pegasus Spur daughter owned by breeders Dave and Mary Lemon of Daylon Farms. Dave trains the talented miss who is a perfect five for five in her young career with C$44,100 banked to date. Wall was honored just prior to the race with a presentation to acknowledge his induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame later this summer.

In an exciting finish in the C$58,200 filly and mare pace City of London final it was Sonic Breeze who prevailed in 1:55.3. As the gate left Robert Shepherd and Phoenix Seelster left a ton from post seven to grab the front which they didn’t relinquish through fractions of :27 and :56.2. By the 1:25.1 three-quarters she was passed by Albanian Era who’d been slowly making up progress on the outside.

As the distaffers turned for home Sonic Breeze, who’d enjoyed a second over trip for Mark Williams, flew home to hit the wire first over Albanian Era and Regal Princess. It proved a series sweep for Sonic Breeze who had captured the two preliminary legs as well. The 4-year-old daughter of Mach Three is trained by Bill Kirkpatrick for owner Pamela Loomis. Friday night’s effort was a new life mark for the mare who was unraced until this year.

There was some confusion at the start of the C$62,200 City of London final for male pacers with breaking horses causing some scattering of the field in the first turn. Modern Xhibit was first to the front and carved splits of :27.3 and :57.1 before giving up his position to Carsons Cracker and Doug McNair by the 1:25.2 three-quarters.

Down the stretch his stablemate from the Gregg McNair barn, Special Session with Yannick Gingras up, tried to get past but Carsons Cracker was strong to the wire, winning in 1:54. Special Session took second while Modern Xhibit held for third.

A 3-year-old gelding by 2008 Molson Pace winner Eagle Luck, Carsons Cracker improved his summary to 3-2-0 in five starts this year for owner/breeder David Carson.