by Greg Blanchard. WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — Ja El Express survived a thrilling stretch duel to capture the first C$130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final of the season for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Thursday (July 23) at Mohawk Racetrack.

The son of Kadabra-Keystone Bluejay was saddled with post eight in the field of 10 but left alertly for driver Jody Jamieson and grabbed control just past the opening quarter in :29.1. As the field straightened up towards the half, Sombrero Hall moved to command, giving Ja El Express the coveted pocket position.

Sombrero Hall faced a stiff challenge from Magic Fruit as the field passed the half in :59 but managed to hold the front and opened a 1-1/2 length lead by the time they reached the third marker in 1:27.3.

Magic Fruit was resurgent and came back on to challenge the tempo-setter as the field turned for home. War King Ton also arrived on the scene and, with Ja El Express searching for racing room, it made for a mad scramble over the final eighth.

In the end, Ja El Express was able to find clearance and came through for a head decision. Magic Fruit won the battle for place with War King Ton finishing third and Sombrero Hall settling for fourth, beaten just a length.

Ja El Express ran his career unbeaten streak to three with the victory and improved his seasonal bankroll to C$104,000 for trainer Jeff Gillis who co-owns along with Ken Henwood.

McIntosh fillies sweep Whenuwishuponastar splits

Bob McIntosh trainees Give The Gift and You See L A swept Thursday night’s two C$20,000 divisions in the second leg of the Whenuwishuponastar Pacing Series for rookie fillies.

Give The Gift got spotted well early from post six in the opening division and then made the winning move in the second quarter for driver Steve Condren. The daughter of Camluck-Eternal Gift took command just past the second station in :57.1 and then cruised to a 2-1/4 length score in 1:54.2. Give The Gift used a :28.1 final quarter to turn back the heavily favored Cool Jazz with stablemate Star Secrets landing the show spot. The winner returned $10.80 for the victory.

It was a maiden-breaking win for Give The Gift in only her second career start. Both Condren and McIntosh share ownership of the filly along with the CSX Stables.

In the second division, You See L A rallied impressively from sixth at the three-quarters for driver Condren to win in 1:54.4. The daughter of The Panderosa-Los Angeles uncorked a wicked :27.3 final quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths over favorite Major Girl with Chocolate Truffle finishing third.

It was also the first win in two career tries for the filly who is co-owned by McIntosh along with the CSX Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. She returned a hefty $34.00 to win.

Ironically, McIntosh also trained the series namesake who was one of the top pacing fillies in North America during the mid-1990s.

The C$53,000 Whenuwishuponastar Final will go postward next Thursday night (July 30) at Mohawk.