from The Raceway at Western Fair District Media Relations

London, ON — In addition to the two C$20,000 eliminations for the track’s signature race, the C$300,000 Molson Pace, Friday night’s (May 18) card at The Raceway at Western Fair District also included the first Ontario Sires Stakes of the season, three C$40,000 Gold eliminations for 3-year-old colt trotters, and five second leg divisions of the City of London Series.

In the second of the three OSS eliminations, Cold Certified established a new track record for 3-year-old gelding trotters at the London oval with an impressive 1:57.4 effort which shaved a full second off the previous mark of 1:58.4 set by Boogie Woogie.

The race saw Cimeronken and John Campbell in control early but Jason Brewer sent Cold Certified up from third and took over the lead at the :28.3 opening quarter. He continued on top through the :58.2 half and shook off a determined Grandin Road, who was head to head with him at the 1:27.4 third quarter, to win in the record time. Keystone Orion was two lengths back in second while Cimeronken was third.

Gary Lance owns and trains the winner, a son of Kadabra, who now has three wins and two seconds in five sophomore starts. He is the first foal of the $205,000 winner I Like Stephanie.

One of last year’s top performers, Il Mago, made his 2012 debut an impressive one in his elimination. Tymal Oh So Nice and Yannick Gingras set the tempo in this test with fractions of :29.1 and 1:00.2. Trevor Ritchie had Il Mago out and driving for the top from third and they were head to head with the leader at the 1:29.3 third panel before pulling away.

Il Mago hit the wire in 1:59 over Midfield Magic and Here’s The Magic. A winner of $171,480 from 10 starts last year at two, Il Mago is owned by breeder Chris Alexander and Mark Harder. Rod Boyd trains the half-brother to $476,966 winner Shoeless White Sox.

In the first elimination it was Northern Escort holding strong to win for Yves Filion in 1:58.3. The Kadabra colt grabbed the lead just past the :29 opening quarter from Ballykeel Ulysses, hit the half in :59.2, then repelled a first up challenge on his way to the 1:28.4 three- quarters and held off a fast closing Ballykeel Ulysses to earn the win. Warrawee Nimby finished third.

It was the third straight win for Northern Escort, trained by Filion’s son Justin for owners Les Ecuries JYJ Inc. Bred by Dr. John McKnight and Pedigree Farm, Northern Escort made just three starts last year at two. He now has $60,783 banked to date this year from a half dozen starts.

The field for the C$130,000 final will line up as follows next Friday night: 1. Il Mago, 2. Midfield Magic, 3. Warrawee Nimby, 4. Ballykeel Ulysses, 5. Cold Certified, 6. Northern Escort, 7. Keystone Orion, 8. Cimeronken.

City Of London Series

It was the heavy favorites prevailing in the two City of London Series divisions for male trotters with Hey AJ notching the fastest victory in the second split with a wire-to-wire 2:00.4 effort off fractions of :30.1, 1:01.3 and 1:32.2. Herbie Is Gone made a valiant effort to catch the leader and finished second with Proby third.

Trevor Henry was up behind the winner, a son of Striking Sahbra trained by John Cecchin who co-owns with fellow trainer Murray Brethour. It was the third consecutive win for Hey A J who is now 4-1-0 in five starts this year.

In the first division P C Firecracker redeemed himself after making a break in the opening leg last week. The 3-year-old gelding by Amigo Hall sat back in fourth while R Baby Q and Scott McIntosh set the early fractions of :29 and :59.2.

Kilmartinliberator took over the lead just before the 1:29.4 third panel but his lead was short lived as he made a break heading into the final turn. That allowed P C Firecracker, who’d been parked and advancing since before the half, to inherit the lead and he opened up for Curtis Clements to win by three lengths in 2:01.4. R Baby Q took second with Herb N Janet third.

P C Firecracker, trained by breeder Peter Clements who co-owns with Amy Clements, now has six wins in seven lifetime starts, all this year.

A trio of City of London divisions for trotting fillies and mares completed Friday night’s card. The first division saw Real Housewife go gate-to-wire for Paul MacKenzie in 2:02.2 to defeat Cut The Rug and Winbak Audit. It was the first lifetime win for the Ken Warkentin daughter owned by Paul Gray and trained by Mike Brealey.

In the second split Daylon Miracle kept her unbeaten streak alive with a 2:01 front end romp for Dave Wall over a very game Cynthia Loo and Sovereign Ley. A half-sister to millionaire trotter Daylon Magician, Daylon Miracle is also owned by her breeder Daylon Farm (Mary and Dave Lemon) and is trained by Dave Lemon.

The final division saw another wire-to-wire performance, this one by Amber Kadabra and Scott Young who reached the wire first in 2:02 over Laurie Jackelroy and Hunter Hall. It was the second win in seven career starts for the 3-year-old daughter of Kadabra owned by Ken Bryant and trained by Scott Barr.