Flamboro: Funtime Bayama tops parade of favorites in OSS Gold Series

Favorites went four-for-four and Funtime Bayama set a track record and equaled a Canadian record in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series action for 2-year-old pacers on Sunday night at Flamboro Downs.

Funtime Bayama (Sylvain Filion) raced in the first C$99,500 grouping for colts and geldings and led through fractions of 28, 57 1/5 and 1:25 1/5 en route to a five length win over Nijinsky (James MacDonald) in 1:52 4/5. Wikipedia (Jonathan Drury) got third.

That time of 1:52 4/5 knocked a full second off the existing Flamboro standard for a rookie pacing gelding and matched the Canadian record clocking of Betterhavemymoney from the Battle of Waterloo final at Grand River on August 2, 2021.

Bred and owned by Bayama Farms, Funtime Bayama is trained by Richard Moreau. The He's Watching gelding hasn't been out of the top two in six appearances, winning four times and finishing second twice, and he's now pocketed C$212,880. He paid $2.10 to win.

Filion also won the other C$100,400 test for the boys with Storm Shadow in 1:56 1/5. He carved out a 29 1/5 quarter, 59 4/5 half and 1:28 2/5 three-quarters, then came home in 27 4/5 to draw off and score by 4 1/2 lengths over Why Wouldnt Ya (Trevor Henry). Crush Kill Destroy (Bob McClure) got third.

Dr. Ian Moore trains Storm Shadow, a Bettor's Delight colt, for owners R G McGroup Ltd., Serge Savard, Mac Nichol and Bolton Farms. Storm Shadow, who was bred by Tara Hills Stud and sold for $165,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, has a summary of 2-1-2 from eight outings, has put away C$137,054 and returned $2.70 to win.

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Dr. Moore also sent out Ann to a victory back in the opening C$100,400 division for fillies. Driven by McClure, she moved from the pocket to the point nearing the 28 second opening quarter and continued on the engine in middle-half panels of 56 2/5 and 1:25 on her way to tallying by a length and three-quarters in 1:54 2/5. One More Bet (Filion) was next, followed by Wicked Leader (Henry).

Ann, a daughter of He's Watching, is owned by Wilma and James MacKenzie and was bred by Dean and Ashley Wilson. The C$33,000 London Classic Yearling Sale acquisition has a pair of wins and a third-place result in three starts, has banked C$60,860 and paid $4.00 to win.

The other C$100,400 test for the girls saw Pass Line (MacDonald) third at the 27 4/5 opening quarter, but she would pull to the outside and clear Odds On Platinum (Filion) approaching the 56 4/5 half. A 1:25 3/5 three-quarters was next, and a 28 2/5 kicker got to the finish line a length ahead of Odds On Platinum in 1:54. Blazing Belle (Doug McNair) collected third.

A filly by All Bets Off, Pass Line is trained by Dave Menary for co-owners/breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and co-owner Frank Baldachino. She made her eighth trip to the winner's circle in her tenth try, pushed her earnings to C$362,152 and returned $3.70 to win as the favorite.