by Sandra Snyder
Campbellville, ON — Two-year-old pacing colts Pacific Admiral and Isle Of Patmos scored elimination victories in their Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series debuts on Friday evening, circling the Mohawk Racetrack oval in identical clockings of 1:52.2.
Pacific Admiral captured the first C$58,102 Gold Elimination with a come-from-behind effort that saw him reel in the leaders down the stretch and power under the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of favourite Astronomical. Make My Day paced home one and a quarter lengths back in third. Also earning a spot on the gate in next weekend’s Gold Final were fourth and fifth place finishers Tobruk and Fastest Rustler.
The win was the first in seven attempts for Pacific Admiral, who was driven to the victory from post two by Chris Christoforou. Trainer Edward Lohmeyer of Cream Ridge, New Jersey shares ownership on the Camluck son with fellow breeder John Stoddard of Pennington, New Jersey.
Pacific Admiral is the fifth foal, and the first Camluck, out of the pair’s $137,959 winning mare You’re Killing Me.
Mohawk fans sent Pacific Admiral off as their fourth choice and the gelding returned $16.60 to win, $5.70 to place and $3.90 to show. Favourite Astronomical delivered a $3.50 dividend on a place ticket and a $3.10 return on a show wager and Make My Day’s third place effort was worth $3.60. The 2 -9 exactor returned $91.90 and the triactor paid $351.80.
In the second elimination, heavy favourite Isle Of Patmos made short work of the field, charging to the front before the half and never glancing back on his way to a one length victory over Must Be Matt. Reigning Gold Final champion Zooka picked up the third place finisher’s share. Loverboy Hanover and Lincoln Parke finished fourth and fifth in the second elimination to secure a berth in the C$130,000 Gold Final next Saturday.
Luc Ouellete piloted Isle Of Patmos to his second straight victory, and his third on the season, for Peter Heffering of Port Perry, Ontario, David Scharf of New York, New York, Jerry Silva of Bellmore, New York and Sampson Street Stables of Old Forge, Pennsylvania. The partners offered up $100,000 for the Astreos son at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale and the investment has proven to be a wise one as the colt has already earned $117,020 through seven starts.
Isle Of Patmos returned $2.70, $2.50 and $2.10 to his backers, Must Be Matt’s runner-up effort was worth $4.80 and $3.80 and Zooka paid $3.10 to show. The exactor was worth $11.00 and the triactor paid $62.50.
The top five finishers from each elimination will return to Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday, October 9 for their fourth C$130,000 Gold Final.