Ontario Sires Stakes action made its season debut at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (July 10) with Gold and Grassroots divisions for three-year-old trotting colts.
The $157,200 Gold division was the feature race of the evening, and James MacDonald capped off his four-win night by driving 4-5 favourite Twin B Archie to victory. MacDonald sent the Archangel son straight to the front from post eight, and he led gate to wire with fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:25.4 to clock the mile in 1:54.1.
“He just gives you that perfect mix of versatility,” said MacDonald. “He can leave the gate like no other trotter, but if you want to take him back and trip him out because that’s what the race calls for, he likes that as well. He’s a really fun horse to drive.”
The win pushed the Scott McEneny trainee over $500,000 in career earnings for McEneny and his ownership partners Domenic Chiaravalle (Hamilton, Ont.), Floyd Marshall (Jarvis, Ont.), and Martwest Racing Stable (Mississauga, Ont.).
Jody Jamieson piloted Esplosione to a second-place finish, moving the Kadabara colt’s 2022 OSS Gold record to 1-1-0. The Meg Crone trainee is owned by Melvin Hartman (Ottawa, Ont.), and Enzed Racing Stable Inc (Allentown, NJ). Rounding the top-three was Century Invader with Scott Young driving for trainer Shawn Steacy. The Resolve colt now has over $70,000 in earnings for owners Landmark 14 (Lansdowne, Ont.), Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc (Hudson, Que.), David Reid (Sydenham Ont.)
Earlier in the evening, MacDonald won two of the three Grassroots divisions for sophomore trotters. His win with Chantal Mitchell trainee Armstead Cole in the third Grassroots division was popular with bettors, scoring as the 1-9 favourite. The defending Grassroots champion is owned by James Armitage and Dr. Roland Armitage from Dunrobin, Ont., Sheryl McDiarmid (Greely, Ont.), and Grant Watson (Ottawa, Ont.).
“Chantal said there was a big group here to watch him and she greatly underestimated how big it was,” said MacDonald. “It was a gigantic group in the winner’s circle.”
The son of Johnny William led gate to wire through splits of :29, :58.2 and 1:27.2 out of post five to win by four lengths in 1:56.
“He’s just a professional, and so easy to drive,” said MacDonald. “I haven’t seen the big closing kick yet because I haven’t needed it, but he settles on the front, and is a real gentlemen to drive. Really happy for the ownership group tonight, they were pretty pumped up for the win.”
The gelding now has over $92,000 in earnings and a career record of 6-1-3 from 15 starts.
MacDonald’s other Grassroots win came in Race 5 with Renegade Gypsy. He was settled into pocket position early by MacDonald after leaving strongly from post five, and a first-up move sent the Mario Baillargeon trainee to the front by the half. He was game the rest of the way, winning in 1:55.1.
“He raced really well. He has a ton of gate speed, so I used it,” said MacDonald. “A couple kept coming, and cleared, and I didn’t know how he was going to be first up. But as soon as he got to (Kipper Whipr Snipr) he kind of took off and cleared and was strong to the finish as well.”
The first Grassroots division was Race 4 on the card, and odds-on favourite Archery Seelster came away with the win.
Sylvain Filion had the Wheeling N Dealin son positioned third early on, but as the field passed the grandstand for the first time he charged to the front and was able to lead the rest of the way and win by two lengths.
Trainer Marcel Barrieau (Cambridge, Ont.), and Gestion Mastel Inc (Longueil, Que.) own the gelding.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Ontario Sires Stakes)