by Ashley Mayotte – WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — The Game Plan extended his win streak to four after scoring in one of two C$40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations for freshman trotting colts and geldings Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack.

The John Kopas pupil, who also won the William Wellwood Memorial Trot at Mohawk Racetrack on September 17, captured his seventh triumph in 10 lifetime outings.

As Majestic Image (Rick Zeron) lead the field of rookies past the first quarter in :27.4, driver Jack Moiseyev pulled The Game Plan from the rail and came first-up from in third.

The pair cleared to the front and held command through splits of :58, and 1:27.4. In the stretch, the 1-5 favorite opened up on the field to score by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Majestic Image finished second with Heres The Magic (Scott Zeron) rounding out the triactor.

Also advancing were fourth-place finisher Warrawee Nimby (Luc Ouellette) and fifth-place finisher Reckon Im Ready (Keith Oliver).

“I was very pleased with him,” Kopas said of the gelding’s first time effort over the Rexdale oval. “He raced like a true professional.”

Kopas believes that the three week layoff that The Game Plan had prior to Friday’s Gold elimination was beneficial.

“He definitely needed it because he raced eight weeks in a row,” he said. “He had a real good three weeks. He is feeling great and looks good so it worked out very well for us.”

The victory lifts The Game Plan’s career earnings to $426,867 for Kopas who also owns a piece of the bay with LLK Stable, Gary Grieve, and Anthony Wagner. The son of Kadabra-Image Control paid $2.50 to win.

The second elimination went to Prestidigitator for trainer Dustin Jones and driver Sylvain Filion.

The bay colt won for the third time in seven starts in his debut season, while taking a new lifetime mark of 1:57.

Good Sound Advice (Randy Waples) was the early leader past the first quarter in :28. The 6-5 favorite, Prestidigitator, launched a first-over attack from fifth and cleared to the front at the half in :58.2.

Prestidigitator passed the three quarters in 1:27.4 and scored the triumph by four lengths over Il Mago (Trevor Ritchie). The Northern Dude (Chris Christoforou) finished third.

Also advancing was fourth-place finisher Victim Of Changes (Luc Ouellette) and fifth-place finisher Good Sound Advice.

“I was being cautious because last time he raced he ran at Flamboro (in a Gold Final on September 30),” said Filion, following the win. “I don’t know exactly why he broke, but tonight he was perfect. He trotted perfect and got off the gate good. Once they lined up, I just decided to take over the front and control the pace, which he did very easily and he was still strong at the wire.

“I just have to give credit to Dustin and his crew for having this colt that good after last week’s performance,” he added.

The victory lifts Prestidigitator’s career earnings to $119,590 for owner Ecurie Synergie. The son of Kadabra-Shesa Priority paid $4.70 to win.

The top five finishers from each elimination advance to the C$130,000 final on Friday, October 14.

Here’s how the rookie trotters will line up behind the gate for the final:

1. Heres The Magic

2. Warrawee Nimby

3. Reckon Im Ready

4. Prestidigitator

5. Victim Of Changes

6. The Game Place

7. Majestic Image

8. Il Mago

9. Good Sound Advance

10. The Northern Dude

AE. Keystone Orion

Apogee Hanover delivers in lone Gold elim

Eleven 2-year-old pacing fillies contested a lone C$40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold elimination Friday evening at Woodbine Racetrack with Apogee Hanover finding the winner’s circle in a stakes equaling performance.

The Erv Miller trainee stopped the teletimer in 1:52, matching the all-time OSS record for 2-year-old pacing fillies on a seven-eighths mile oval, which was originally set by Chancey Lady in 2007 at Woodbine.

The freshman filly also took a new lifetime mark, while notching her third victory in nine career starts.

Mindsweeper (Steve Byron) clocked the opening panel of 26.2, but a parked out Cooking The Books (Jack Moiseyev) cleared to the front past the quarter pole.

Legal Entity (Luc Ouellette) launched a first over attack from third, taking command before the mid-way point in :55.4. Also before the half, driver Scott Zeron and the post time favorite, Apogee Hanover, who were sitting fifth, made a bid for the lead, clearing as they entered the final turn. Apogee Hanover hit the three-quarters in 1:23.3.

The pair scored the victory by one and three-quarter lengths over Legal Entity. Cooking The Books finished third.

“She was phenomenal,” said Zeron, following the win. “It was disappointing to say the least when I went down to Windsor (for a Gold Final on September 25) and she made a break in the first turn. So, we got different instructions this time, which were to drive her a little bit aggressively and keep her up on the bit going into the turns, and that’s what I did.

“I really didn’t anticipate power moving that fast out of the five-hole, but she did it all on her own and took off down the lane without urging and no pulled plugs,” he added.

Owned by Roger Hammer, the bay filly now has career earnings of $134,812. The daughter of Jeremes Jet-Aurora Seelster paid $5.20 to win.

The top 10 finishers from the single elimination advance to the C$130,000 final on Friday, October 14.

Here’s how the freshman fillies will line up behind the gate for the final:

1. Mindsweeper

2. Legal Entity

3. Your Beautiful

4. Jet Speed

5. Class Of O Nine

6. Ys Gold Star

7. Apogee Hanover

8. Classy Lane Rose

9. Cooking The Books

10. Eat Me Up

AE. Breezin On Bye