from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — A total of C$779,200 will be up for grabs at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night (July 22) as the Campbellville oval showcases the best of the Ontario Sires Stakes sophomore crop. Pacers and trotters, colts and fillies, will line up behind the Mohawk starting gate in nine Gold Series divisions.

“All the best 3-year-olds are there,” said the program’s leading driver Sylvain Filion. “I think fans will enjoy watching all the good 3-year-olds in the same night. They should have one heck of a race card to watch.”

The 3-year-old trotting fillies will kick things off at 7:30 p.m. in the first race and the absence of division heavyweight Magic Presto, currently competing stateside, gives the other fillies a chance to pad their point tally in the quest for a season ending Super Final berth. Filion will drive one filly in each of the C$96,400 divisions, guiding July 7 Gold Leg winner On A Sunny Day from post six in the first race and last year’s division champion Winter Sweet Frost from post three in the third.

“I feel lucky to get the opportunity to drive them two fillies,” said the Milton, Ontario resident, who is the regular pilot for On A Sunny Day and will make his debut in Winter Sweet Frost’s race bike. “On A Sunny Day, she raced real big last time at Georgian (July 2); that was one heck of a trip. She fought off Trevor Henry’s, Nifty Norman’s, filly there (Magic Presto). That was a really, really super mile.”

Filion will also steer trotting colts Magic Night, post six in race six, and R First Class, post six in race eight; pacing colts Yogi Bayama, post three in race two, and Tymal Peacemaker, post eight in race nine; and pacing fillies Soiree Seelster, post five in race 11, and Yaris Bayama, post two in race 12.

The four-time winner of the Lampman Cup award as the top driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes, Filion noted that Tymal Peacemaker could be poised for a big effort in the third pacing colt division. The Stephane Larocque trainee heads into the event off a 1:51.2 victory in an overnight event at Mohawk on July 15.

“Tymal Peacemaker really raced good his last start. His first Sires Stakes this year (July 1) I shut his air off, so he didn’t race that good that night, but he bounced back pretty good, and he felt really good the other night,” said Filion. “I know he drew the outside post (eight), but I think if he races the way he did last time he should be really tough to beat in there.”

Looking at the nine Gold Series events, Mohawk announcer Ken Middleton sees a variety of interesting wagering propositions for fans looking for selections beyond the expected favorites.

“Saturday’s card should offer a number of value play possibilities in the Gold Series events. Especially with horses that are on a roll, but have yet to prove themselves at this elite level,” said Middleton. “A prime example of a horse that fits the bill is Bills Fella (post two in race five). He’s a bit of a late bloomer who has started to come into his own in recent weeks for trainer Gregg McNair.

“He’ll hook up with two of last year’s big name pacing colts in Sports Column and Arsenal Seelster, but it looks like he might be catching them at a good time,” Middleton continued. “He’s one I’d take a rip at if the price was 4-1 or higher.”

Saturday’s contest marks the midway point in the sophomore Gold Series season, so all 74 hopefuls should be in top form as they battle for points toward a berth in their respective C$225,000 Super Final. The top 10 point earners from each division will qualify for a spot in the Oct. 14 Super Finals at Mohawk.

Post time for Saturday’s talent-laden event at the Campbellville oval is 7:30 p.m.