TORONTO, November 19 – The Autumn Series for two-year-olds wrapped up Thursday night at Woodbine Racetrack with the finals for the colts and geldings.
The $30,000 two-year-old trot and $31,400 two-year-old pace both featured a field of ten.
In the trotting final, Gonna Fly was able to knock off the heavy favourite Matza Man in 1:59.3.
Driven by Paul MacDonell, Gonna Fly got away far back in ninth position, while Matza Man, at odds of 1/5, got away fourth.
The public's choice was sent first up just after the half, which allowed Gonna Fly to get into the outside flow. Matza Man poked a neck in front at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.3, while MacDonell sent Gonna Fly three-wide from fourth-over turning for home.
Matza Man appeared to be poised for the series sweep, but Gonna Fly tracked him down and reached up in the final strides to win by a neck. Jls Bad Moon Risin finished third, while Pukka was fourth.
A son of Kadabra, Gonna Fly is trained by Bob McIntosh for the ownership group of McIntosh Stables Inc. and Earl Hill Jr.
Gonna Fly finished second in the opening round and fourth in last week's second leg. Thursday's victory was the third in 14 starts for the rookie and pushed his earnings over $43,000.
The clocking of 1:59.3 set a new mark for the McIntosh trainee. Gonna Fly paid $9.60 to win.
Continual Hanover prevailed as the 1/2 favourite in the pacing colts and geldings final.
Driven by Jody Jamieson, Continual Hanover got away sixth in the early stages. Big Bang Boom, who was looking for the series sweep, sprinted to lead for Jonathan Drury and posted an opening-quarter of :26.2.
Big Bang Boom had company in the second-quarter from Gotti, but Drury kept the tempo hot and left the challenger parked out by the half in :55.
After putting away the challenger, Big Bang Boom rolled by the three-quarter pole in 1:23.1. Continual Hanover was brought to the outside in the third-quarter and was three-wide and only three-lengths off the lead turning for home.
Continual Hanover cruised by Big Bang Boom in the stretch and pulled away for a four-length victory in 1:53.2.
B Fast Eddie got up for second, while Print Media was third. Big Bang Boom finished fourth.
A son of Bettors Delight, Continual Hanover is owned and trained by Jack Darling. The rookie pacing colt won last week's second leg after finishing second the week prior.
Continual Hanover surpassed the $100,000 mark with the victory. He now has five wins from 12 starts.
Continual Hanover paid $3.10 to win.
In order to be eligible to the Autumn Series, the Ontario sired two-year-olds had to be non-winners of $30,000 lifetime as of September 30, 2015.
Mark McKelvie, for WEG Communications