"Denis Breton has 50 people coming from Welland; Phil Silvestri, it's his daughter's birthday, and he has 60-plus people coming; and my mom and dad will have a big crew," explains trainer David Menary, who will harness Haul Away in the freshman pacing colt final. "We're excited about it."
Larry Menary of Cheltenham, Denis Breton of Welland, Phil Silvestri of Hamilton and Joseph Settimi of Hamilton share ownership on two-time Gold Final winner Haul Away, who makes his bid for the division crown from Post 8 in the sixth race. The Modern Art gelding heads into the Super Final off a five week break caused by sickness, but Menary says the youngster schooled well on Monday and seems to have bounced back to full health.
"We schooled him Monday (Nov. 9) morning at Mohawk and he went the fastest mile of the day, of the qualifiers and schoolers," notes the horseman. "I didn't want to go too fast with him, just tighten him up and have him ready for Saturday."
Haul Away fell ill following his Oct. 10 Gold Final win at Woodbine Racetrack, and Menary was hoping he would be healthy enough to compete in the regular season finale at Western Fair Raceway, but when the gelding did not bounce back as quickly as expected Menary opted to scratch him from the Oct. 30 elimination.
"He was almost okay to go to London, but he's too nice a horse to risk it," says the Cheltenham resident. "I didn't want to race him at ninety per cent."
Regular reinsman Jody Jamieson will pilot Haul Away in his fifth Gold Series start. The pair face a talent laden field that includes the London Gold Final winner Keystone Raptor from Post 6 and division point leader Grin For Money from Post 10.
Both Keystone Raptor and Grin For Money hail from the John Kopas stable, and their presence in the race will also help to fill the tarmac near the finish line. Grin For Money is owned by the 10 member Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association New Owner Group, the Grin For Money Stable of London, and there is at least one bus load of the colt's fans heading to Woodbine Saturday.
In spite of his outside post position, the group members will be hoping to see an improved performance from the Grinfromeartoear son and driver Sylvain Filion, who finished seventh at Western Fair on Nov. 7.
"I look for him to be better this week," says trainer Kopas. "We scoped him afterwards, and allergy season isn't over yet.
"If he had been himself last week, even with the outside post, he'd have been right there," adds the Milton resident. "He is such a tremendous talent when he's healthy, and unfortunately for everyone, he wasn't the other night."
While Grin For Money did not deliver to his potential in the Nov. 7 Gold Final, stablemate Keystone Raptor did. The Astreos son got a flawless steer from driver Jack Moiseyev and delivered a half length victory in 1:55.4.
"He's a great big, growthy colt, who has just really come into his own the last three or four weeks. I wasn't surprised at all the other night, with the trip he got, that he won," says the horseman, who shares ownership of Keystone Raptor with John Fielding of Toronto, Clay Horner of Toronto and High Stakes Inc. of Moffat. "He is peaking at just about the right time."
Both Menary and Kopas also have heavyweight contenders in the sophomore pacing colt division. Menary sends division point leader and three-time Gold Final winner Fast Pay into the $300,000 fray from Post 8, while Kopas harnesses Shipps Xpectancy from Post 4.
Shipps Xpectancy heads into the Super Final battle off an impressive 1:51.1 victory at Woodbine on Nov. 7 that saw him sprint home in :26.1 to best a number of his Ontario-sired sophomore pacing colt peers. In seven starts since mid-September, the Mach Three gelding has three wins, two seconds and one third to his credit.
"He's been racing really well - his last three starts especially," says Kopas, who trains the winner of $316,793 for Harold G. Shipp Stable of Mississauga. "Keith Oliver said last night, he can't believe the kick that horse has got at the end of a mile."
Among the colts Shipps Xpectancy bested on Nov. 7 was Fast Pay, who finished sixth, his third straight out of the money result. However, Menary was satisfied with the Western Terror son's effort and thinks he is ready to rumble on Saturday.
"He raced a lot better his last start," says Menary. "There are not very many times that I'm happy to be sixth, but the two starts before that he didn't finish up as well as he should."
Menary's father, Breton, Silvestri and Settimi also own Fast Pay, who has been outstanding this season. In 21 starts the 2008 freshman pacing colt Grassroots champion has posted seven wins, three seconds and one third for $365,600 in earnings, and set an all-time Ontario Sires Stakes record with his 1:49 victory in Gold Final action at Mohawk Racetrack on Aug. 10.
"Fast Pay was right there at the beginning of the year, and he's still there," says Menary. "Win, lose or draw - if they get a little money, or no money - they've both had a really good year."
A total of $2.4 million will go home with the province's top trotters and pacers on Saturday evening, as they battle their way around the Woodbine Racetrack oval in eight Super Final events. The Toronto oval's first race goes in behind the starting gate at 7:30 pm and the Super Final events will have supporters on their feet from Race 3 through Race 10.
ENTRIES - WOODBINE RACETRACK SUPER FINALS - SATURDAY, NOV. 14, 7:30 PM:
RACE 3 $300,000 THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE SUPER FINAL
1 - Kabbalah Karen B (Western Terror) J. Morrill, Jr. T. Brainard
2 - Northern Duchess (Western Terror) M. Saftic J. Pentland
3 - Cheap Motel (Grinfromeartoear) J. Jamieson T. Brainard
4 - St Lads Popcorn (Twin B Champ) Ja. Brewer J. Darling
5 - Shacked Up (Western Terror) L. Ouellette T. Brainard
6 - Not Enough (Grinfromeartoear) Ma. MacDonald T. Brainard
7 - My Red High Heels (Modern Art) Ra. Waples D. Tyrrell
8 - Coming Late (Grinfromeartoear) D. Miller T. Brainard
RACE 4 $300,000 TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT SUPER FINAL
1 - Rebelious Royalty (Mutineer) A. MacDonald J. MacDonald
2 - Wilsonator (Kadabra) S. Filion R. Fellows
3 - Windcross (Striking Sahbra) S. Byron J. Bax
4 - Angostura (Angus Hall) T. Ritchie D. Creighton
5 - Emmylou Who (Ken Warkentin) L. MacArthur L. MacArthur
6 - Isthatallyagot (Southwind Lustre) A. MacDonald J. MacDonald
7 - Sooner Than Later (Striking Sahbra) Ra. Waples D. McIntosh
8 - Warrawee Lassie (Kadabra) R. Zeron F. O'Reilly
9 - Poof Shes Gone (Kadabra) D. Miller R. Norman
10 - Ruling Class (Angus Hall) P. MacDonell J. Bax
AE1 - Daria Hall (Striking Sahbra) D. Brown D. Brown
AE2 - Magic Treasure (Kadabra) Ra. Waples J. Stutzman
RACE 5 $300,000 TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT SUPER FINAL
1 - Ja El Express (Kadabra) J. Jamieson J. Gillis
2 - Sombrero Hall (Striking Sahbra) P. MacDonell J. Bax
3 - Grumpy Jake (Striking Sahbra) J. Moiseyev M. Guitard
4 - Zorgwijk Kingpin (Southwind Lustre) T. Ritchie R. MacLean
5 - Keystone Swagger (Angus Hall) S. Filion J. Kopas
6 - Text Me (Kadabra) Ra. Waples R. McIntosh
7 - Magic Fruit (Kadabra) S. Condren P. Henriksen
8 - Reach Higher (Striking Sahbra) S. Condren J. Kopas
9 - Pointe To Pointe (Mutineer) W. Henry W. Henry
10 - War King Ton (Ken Warkentin) R. Mayotte B. MacDonald
AE1 - Lucero (Kadabra) R. Zeron B. Baillargeon
RACE 6 $300,000 TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE SUPER FINAL
1 - Stonebridge Tonic (Camluck) D. McNair G. McNair
2 - Future Million (Million Dollar Cam) S. Allard D. Lowes
3 - Windsong Gorgeous (Rambaran) A. MacDonald W. Cass
4 - Brusiers Brother (Mach Three) M. Saftic L. Eftimiadis
5 - BP Chimo (Grinfromeartoear) Ph. Hudon J. Barton
6 - Keystone Raptor (Astreos) J. Moiseyev J. Kopas
7 - Code Word (Western Terror) R. Zeron T. O'Sullivan
8 - Haul Away (Modern Art) J. Jamieson D. Menary
9 - Adrenaline (Mach Three) T. Henry L. Eftimiadis
10 - Grin For Money (Grinfromeartoear) S. Filion J. Kopas
AE1 - Tigers Mattjesty (Royal Mattjesty) P. MacDonell D. Tackoor
AE2 - Big Bay Point (Camluck) Ph. Hudon W. Cass
RACE 7 $300,000 THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE SUPER FINAL
1 - Shady Cam (Camluck) Ja. Brewer Ja. Brewer
2 - One More Drink (Western Terror) J. Morrill, Jr. T. Brainard
3 - Stonebridge Terror (Western Terror) M. Saftic J. Darling
4 - Shipps Xpectancy (Mach Three) J. Moiseyev J. Kopas
5 - Power Off (Western Terror) L. Ouellette T. Brainard
6 - Ideal Race (Western Terror) D. Miller T. Brainard
7 - Primary Purpose (Cammibest) Ma. MacDonald C. Coleman
8 - Fast Pay (Western Terror) P. MacDonell D. Menary
9 - Lyons Horace (Astreos) Ra. Waples S. Robinson
10 - OK Boromir (No Pan Intended) L. Ouellette F. Baker, Jr.
AE1 - Waffles And Cream (Western Terror) T.B.A. T. Brainard
RACE 8 $300,000 THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT SUPER FINAL
1 - Striking Lindsey (Striking Sahbra) D. McNair G. McNair
2 - Equity (Kadabra) J. Moiseyev C. Christoforou
3 - Angeldrive (Angus Hall) R. Zeron G. Gordon
4 - Hitithard (Mr Lavec) M. Saftic J. Ciarpelli
5 - Celebrity Hercules (Kadabra) R. Zeron J. Drennan
6 - Hour Lavec (Mr Lavec) P. MacDonell J. Stutzman
7 - Parlay (Kadabra) J. Jamieson J. Gillis
8 - Breewood Gringo (Amigo Hall) T. Henry S. Loughran
9 - Structure Fire (Amigo Hall) Ja. Brewer G. Lance
10 - I Wont Dance (Angus Hall) T. Ritchie P. Henriksen
AE1 - P L Cooper (Mr Lavec) S. Filion M. Fine
AE2 - Magic Spice (Kadabra) J. Jamieson D. Menary
RACE 9 $300,000 TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE SUPER FINAL
1 - Bay Girl (Royal Mattjesty) M. Baillargeon B. Wallace
2 - Tiz To Dream (Grinfromeartoear) D. McNair G. McNair
3 - Higher And Higher (Western Terror) J. Morrill, Jr. T. Brainard
4 - St Lads Trixie (Artesian) S. Allard R. Allard
5 - FBs Terror (Western Terror) S. Zeron M. Macri
6 - The Big Scoop (Grinfromeartoear) J. Jamieson R. Hill
7 - Lily Ellie (Rambaran) Da. Wall De. Wall
8 - Western Silk (Western Terror) Ma. MacDonald C. Coleman
9 - Ice Ice Baby (Modern Art) D. McCall D. McCall
RACE 10 $300,000 THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT
1 - Simply Stirling (Mr Lavec) K. Oliver R. Jeffries
2 - Mystic River (Kadabra) S. Condren K. O'Reilly
3 - Mets Inn (Mutineer) Ra. Waples J. Bax
4 - Magic Sassy (Kadabra) D. Miller J. Arledge
5 - Novelty AS (Striking Sahbra) J. Jamieson A. Lorentzon
6 - Elusive Desire (Angus Hall) P. MacDonell M. Keeling
7 - Cuddler (Kadabra) M. Baillargeon M. Brethour
8 - SOS Respect (Mr Lavec) S. Filion K. O'Reilly
9 - Ill Wait For You (Kadabra) T. Ritchie D. Creighton
10 - Friendly Amigo (Amigo Hall) Br. Richardson B. Burgess
AE1 - Warrawee Kava (Kadabra) Ja. Brewer K. O'Reilly
For more information please contact Sandra Snyder at 519-656-2017 (Tel./Fax) or smsnyder@sentex.net.
Visit www.ontariosiresstakes.com for up to date point standings and more.
Sandra SNYDER


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