from the Ontario Sires Stakes

London, ON — The 3-year-old trotting colts kicked off their 2014 Ontario Sires Stakes season in four C$52,500 Gold divisions Friday night (May 30) at The Raceway at Western Fair District, part of the undercard of the London, Ontario, track’s richest night of the season featuring their signature race, The Molson Pace. All four OSS winners have pedigrees deep in OSS talent.

The fourth and final split saw an aggressive steer by Chris Christoforou aboard O Narutac Perfetto pay off in a convincing 1:58.3 victory to establish a new track record over the half-mile oval. That pair led the field past the opening marker in :29.1 where they were overtaken by Alerthemedia. However, Christoforou wasn’t content to sit in second and sent his charge right back out to retake control by the :59.2 half.

They rebuffed a challenge by favorite Pasadena Star at the 1:29 three-quarters and tripped the teletimer in 1:58.3 which shaved a fifth of a second off the former track standard for 3-year-old geldings set in 2010 by Boogie Woogie. Pasadena Star and Aggressive, both by Kadabra, finished second and third, respectively.

It was the first start in Ontario this year for the winner and first under the care of trainer Mark Steacy. Owned by Cataway Racing Stable and Pat Caturano, the Deweycheatumnhowe son was recording his first victory in 11 tries this year. The colt’s dam is the C$222,000 winner Aiken For Clay whose dam is the former OSS star Natashas Kiss (C$320,000).

In the first division it was Starsaboveallerage and Christoforou setting the tempo. The Angus Hall colt had a three length advantage at the opening marker of :29.1 but his rivals tightened up that gap before the half was reached in :59.4.

Steve Condren had Tyrone Haji first up to challenge the leader and was at his saddle pad by the 1:29.2 three-quarters. As the field straightened for home Tyrone Haji trotted past to hit the wire first in 1:59.2. Starsaboveallerage held for second over a fast closing Dontcheatonmenow and Jack Moiseyev.

It was the first win in five tries this year for Tyrone Haji, a son of Kadabra owned by breeder Dave Boyle and trainer Bob McIntosh. The colt’s pedigree is rich in OSS talent as his second dam is a former star of the program, Tudy Tuck, who won more than C$276,000 more than three decades ago. With his share of Friday night’s purse Tyrone Haji has now earned C$58,000 to date in his young career.

The complexion of the second division changed quickly when favorite Massive Muscles, the second highest money winner in this division last year, broke stride while attempting to challenge the leader in the first turn.

That allowed Hitchin A Ride and Jack Moiseyev an easy path to the front from post one and that talented duo clicked off fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:28.4. No one could catch Hitchin A Ride down the stretch and he opened up to win handily in 1:58.2, the fastest of the four divisions. Verdi, a son of Kadabra, finished second followed by Massacaia, a Muscle Mass colt.

It was the second start of the year for Hitchin A Ride, a son of Angus Hall who earned C$33,000 last year at two. Breeder Lynn Baker shares ownership of the colt with June Durand, Allan Smith and Catherine Baker.

Hitchin A Ride is the 12th foal of the Ontario-bred mare B Cor Peatra whose previous foals have included Chip Dot Com (C$664,000), Tall Cotton (C$556,140) and Celebrity Sweedie (C$431,000). The colt’s second dam is also a former OSS star, C$186,000 winner B Cor Tamara whose progeny has earned close to C$3 million.

Hitchin A Ride’s trainer, Tom Durand, is quite familiar with this family having raced Tall Cotton, as partners with Lynn Baker, as well as one of B Cor Tamara’s foals, Yorktown Gunner.

A three wide move by Massive Talent before the three-quarters proved the winning move in the third division.

Federal Strike and Bruce Richardson set the tempo in the race through fractions of :29.4, 1:00.3 and 1:31. But Jody Jamieson had Massive Talent rolling three wide before the third panel and collared the leader and went on to win in 2:00.3 over Entranced (Kadabra) and Valorcross (Cornaro Dasolo).

It marked the first lifetime victory for Massive Talent, a son of Muscle Mass owned by John Fielding and trained by Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman. The gelding is the first foal from the Angus Hall mare Stonebridge Marita, who earned more than C$100,000 while racing in the OSS program.

The next OSS Gold event for this division goes June 24 at Mohawk Racetrack. Complete results from Friday tonight’s card are available through this link.