by Ashley Mayotte – WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Mohawk Racetrack was jam-packed Sunday evening as fans from around the community came out to celebrate fireworks and Family Fun night.

The evening also featured a trio of Ontario Sires Stakes (O.S.S.) Gold elims for sophomore trotting colts and geldings.

Last year’s O.S.S. Super Final winner, Daylon Magician, captured the first C$40,000 elimination, which kick started the trotter’s 3-year-old campaign.

Edit (Rick Zeron) left the gate first and took the field through soft fractions of :28 and 58.1.

At the half, Daylon Magician (Jack Moiseyev), the 2-5 favorite, came first-over from third and claimed the lead at the three-quarter marker in 1:27.1.

The David Lemon-owned and trained colt opened up as the field hit the stretch, winning by four lengths in 1:54.4. Edit held on for second, Buckhams Bay (Jacques Hebert) was third and Over And Out (Mario
Baillargeon) was fourth.

“He was an absolute monster tonight, I shut him down three-quarters down the stretch,” said Moiseyev. “We could have went around again if we had to.”

Moiseyev believes the colt grew into himself, physically. “He was a terrific 2-year-old last year, but his gait has improved,” he said. “Now, he’s got all the right tools to be a standout horse. I was overly impressed with him tonight.”

Daylon Magician paid $2.80 to win. The son of Kadabra-Daylon Marvel has a lifetime record of 4-2-1 in nine starts and has increased his earnings to C$245,000.

The second Gold elimination went to the Jeff Gillis-trained Sim Brown in a mild upset.

Delcrest Julian (James MacDonald) was taken off the gate first and had a three-length lead after an opening quarter of :28.

Trevor Ritchie manoeuvred the 4-5 favorite, Lakefield, from the pocket to the lead, cutting the half in :59.1 as Sim Brown (Randy Waples) pulled out from third.

Sim Brown was unsuccessful in claiming the lead and dropped into the pocket as they entered the turn in 1:28.1.

Lakefield opened up as the field entered the stretch, but Sim Brown showed some late speed at the seven-eighths pole and battled with the favorite. Sim Brown won by a head in 1:56.2. Lakefield was second and Twin B Herbie (Jody Jamieson) was third.

“He raced pretty awesome,” Waples said following the win. “I didn’t want to be first-over, but we were going so slow, I had to move him. It worked out that I could get back into the two-hole. I didn’t want to be first-over, but that’s horse racing.”

Waples has opted to drive the bay in the O.S.S. Gold final next Monday.

“I hope he draws well,” he said. “Jack’s colt (Jack Moiseyev and Daylon Magician) is going to be tough and there are a couple of other tough ones in there too,” he said. “He shows he’s competitive and it’s a long year. I hope he makes a good account of himself.”

Sim Brown paid $8.40 to win as the second choice. The son of Angus Hall-Trophy Bass has a lifetime record of 2-3-2 in 12 starts and has increased his lifetime earnings to C$163,040 for owners Gillis, Mac Nichol of Burlington and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, New York.

The third elimination, which was the fastest of the three tilts, was won by Mr Joe Sixpack.

Imperial Count (Steve Condren) took the early lead in an opening quarter of :27.2. Attorney Hanover (Luc Ouellette) laid down the law, came first-over and cleared the lead at the half in :57.

Mr Joe Sixpack (Randy Waples) pulled out from fourth and began to apply pressure to the leader as the field entered the final turn, hitting the three-quarter pole in 1:26.

The Shane Arsenault trainee took the lead in the stretch and held on to win in 1:54.1, by three-quarters of a length. Imperial Count got up for second and Undercover Strike (Sylvain Filion) was third.

“I didn’t know too much about him coming into tonight,” said Waples. “Shane [Arsenault] told me he thought he would have won the Grassroots final last year, but he hit the bike and made a break. He thinks he’s a good horse and he didn’t lie.”

Waples was impressed with the colt’s effort. “[1]:54 is really good mile, especially in just his second start of the year,” he said. “He was a monster tonight and it looks like he’ll have a terrific year.”

Mr Joe Sixpack paid $10 to win as the second choice. The son of Striking Sahbra-Bambino Lau has a lifetime record of 4-2-0 in nine starts and has increased his earnings to C$68,920 for owners Shane and Brandon Arsenault of Waterdown and Louis Arsenault of Freelton.

The top three finishers and one fourth-place finisher will advance to the C$130,000 final on Monday, May 30.

Here is a look at how the sophomore trotters will line up behind the gate for the O.S.S. Gold final:

1) Lakefield
2) Over And Out
3) Buckhams Bay
4) Undercover Strike
5) Sim Brown
6) Daylon Magician
7) Imperial Count
8) Twin B Herbie
9) Mr Joe Sixpack
10) Edit
AE) Sir Tyson