Ontario Sire Stakes
Toronto, ON — Ontario’s talented 2-year-old trotting colts invaded Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (Aug. 4) evening and Mass Production posted the quickest mile of the three Gold divisions.
Starting from Post 3 in third C$70,000 Gold division, Mass Production made an early break in stride that left him 12 lengths behind pacesetter Parkhill Nonstop by the :28.4 quarter. Still 12 lengths behind at the :58.3 half, Mass Production started to gain ground as Parkhill Nonstop handed over front end control to Vero Amore Bi heading by the 1:28 three-quarters.
Turning for home Mass Production was 5-1/2 lengths back, but when trainer-driver Rick Zeron saw Vero Amore Bi go off stride he quickly shifted his colt into overdrive. Sprinting down the stretch Mass Production hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front of Parkhill Nonstop in a personal best 1:58.3. Rosberg was promoted from fourth to third after it was determined that Vero Amore Bi did not lose ground while off stride.
“Mass made a miscue in the first turn, I don’t know why, but he came back trotting and settled down,” said Zeron. “So I just sat back with him and waited for the head of the lane, then I spoke to the big colt and he responded perfectly for me.
“He’s a great colt,” added the Oakville resident, who shares ownership of the Muscle Mass-All Time Favorite son with James Walker of Port Perry, Bruno Dipoce of Wasaga Beach, ON and Rene Allard of Matamoras, Pa.
Thursday’s victory was Mass Production’s second in Gold Series action. The gelding, a C$32,000 purchase from the Canadian Yearling Sale, was also victorious at Georgian Downs in the July 9 season opener. He finished a narrowly beaten second in the July 25 Gold Leg at Mohawk Racetrack and currently sits atop the Gold Series standings with 125 points.
The first Gold division went to Life Well Lived in a personal best 1:59.3. After getting away fourth from Post 4, driver Travis Henry sent Life Well Lived after the lead before the :59.4 half and the colt was well in control by the 1:28.4 three-quarters. Without facing a challenge, Life Well Lived sailed down the stretch to a 3-1/2 length victory over Warrawee Shipshape and fan favorite Clarion Hall.
“He’s a nice horse to drive,” said Henry. “He’s very calm and well-mannered and you can do whatever you want with him.”
Carmen Auciello conditions Life Well Lived for Robert Burgess of Cedar Valley, ON, who offered up C$33,000 for the son of Muscle Mass and Life Class at the 2015 Forest City Yearling Sale. In his first two Gold Series starts the colt finished second to Rose Run Speedster and Thursday’s victory moved him into third in the Gold standings with 100 points, right behind his rival.
The second Gold division went to Dream Massive, who powered away from Post 4 and landed in second as Magic Night led the Gold Series field to a :29.3 opening quarter. Driver James MacDonald and Dream Massive continued to shadow the pacesetter through the 1:00.4 half and 1:30.1 three-quarters and then tipped out for the stretch drive. As Dream Massive accelerated past Magic Night the pacesetter went off stride and Dream Massive opened up to a 2-1/4 length win in 1:59.1. Pennant Seelster recovered from his own early break in stride to be second, while fan favourite Rose Run Speedster settled for third after dodging the breaking Magic Night.
“He is a nice going colt who finally found his luck,” said trainer Mark Steacy of Dream Massive’s first lifetime victory. “He made a green break in his first race when we felt he would be close, and he raced well last time.
“He fought off a slight virus this time to race very good,” added the Lansdowne, ON resident, who trains the son of Muscle Mass-Stroke Me Strokeme for Michael Soehnlen of Dalton, OH.
Dream Massive finished eighth in the July 9 opener at Georgian Downs after making a break and then bounced back to finish third in the July 25 event at Mohawk Racetrack. Thursday’s victory boosted the colt’s earnings to C$43,400 and his Gold Series point tally to 63.