by Ashley Mayotte – WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — After winning his elimination one week ago, Twin B Wrangler was triumphant once again in the C$50,000 Autumn Stakes final for 2-year-old pacing colts on Monday night at Woodbine, while Calipari scored in the C$60,000 final for 3-year-old trotting colts.

Over a sloppy track, the Travis Umphrey-trained Twin B Wrangler won in gate-to-wire fashion with driver Keith Oliver in the sulky. The tempo-setter held command through splits of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.1 before stopping the teletimer in 1:54.3.

The 6-5 favorite crossed the wire two and a half lengths ahead of Machs Beach Boy (Jason Brewer) with Pansational (Scott Zeron) finishing third.

“Keith (Oliver) said he just wanted to stay out of trouble, which he did. He was a little lazy tonight to be honest, I mean the colt was not Keith,” Umphrey laughed. “He was lazy training this week. I think he is just learning what it’s about. I was really happy with the way it worked out.

“He is so athletic looking,” the Guelph resident added. “He is a tall, leggy colt and I think he is going to fill out some more over the winter. He has the gait and the attitude to be a nice horse down the road, so hopefully he grows up over the winter.”

Twin B Wrangler has ended his freshman campaign on a high note as Umphrey also stated that the Autumn Stakes final was the rookie’s last start of the year.

The son of Mach Three-Stryper improved his 2011 record to 3-2-1 in six starts, for Umphrey, who owns a piece of the bay with Mac Nichol of Burlington and Derek Wilson of Okotoks, Alberta.

Twin B Wrangler returned $4.70 to win.

In the second featured event of the night, the Anette Lorentzon pupil, Calipari, captured the lion’s share of the purse when he found the winner’s circle with driver Billy Davis, Jr. in the bike.

Calipari, who was third-over past the half, sat behind fractions of :27.4, :58.1 and 1:27.4 before using a late rush of speed to get under the wire in 1:57.3.

The 7-2 second choice finished one length ahead of the 6-5 favorite, Vimy Ridge (Sylvain Filion), with P L Eureka (Keith Oliver) rounding out the triactor.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better trip,” said Davis, Jr. following the win. “Two of the favorites were right in front of me. They both came first-up and second-over and I was glued right to Sylvain’s (Filion) helmet the whole time. I never had to show him air until the top of the lane and he had lots of go left down the stretch.”

The Cambridge resident was confident in Calipari.

“I knew he was the winner at the top of the lane,” the reinsman added.

The 3-year-old son of Ken Warkentin-Sheena Hall has won five races in 12 seasonal starts, including his final of the Ontario Graduate Series at Georgian Downs on November 1. The seven-time career winner is owned by Acl Stuteri Ab of Paris, Kentucky.

Calipari paid $9.20 to win.

Live harness racing returns to the Rexdale oval on Thursday evening (December 8) with a first race post time of 7:10 p.m. The 11-race program will feature a C$50,000 Autumn Stakes final for 2-year-old pacing fillies and a pair of Autumn Stakes eliminations for 3-year-old trotting fillies.