Grand River Raceway: Records galore in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series action

It was a showcase of speed in a trio of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Monday night at Grand River Raceway as track and Canadian records were set in every split.

Forbidden Trade (Bob McClure) rewrote the record book entirely when he won the second C$64,800 section in 1:56 4/5. That shattered the previous track record of 1:58 1/5 for the division and the Canadian mark of 1:57 4/5 for a rookie trotting colt on a half-mile track (at Flamboro Downs) that had belonged to Daylon Magician since 2010.

Dream Nation (Louis-Philippe Roy) set the numbers in the race, clicking off stations of 28 3/5, 59 1/5, and 1:27 3/5, but Forbidden Trade, who had pulled first-up from fourth before the half, kept grinding away throughout and surged by late to defeat Dream Nation by a neck. Southwind Avenger (Trevor Henry) was the third-place finisher.

“He’s been that good all year,” said McClure. “I thought he was one of the best colts, if not the best, all year. He hasn’t done much wrong this year. Every week he’s coming late, coming late, coming late, and I don’t think I’ve seen him get tired yet.”

A Kadabra colt, Forbidden Trade is trained by Luc Blais for owner Determination. This was Forbidden Trade's fifth win from seven tries, and he has now earned C$115,431. Bred by Steve Stewart, Forbidden Trade was a $110,000 purchase at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of Pure Ivory (Striking Sahbra, 1:53 1/5, C$1,442,888). Forbidden Trade was the 5-1 fourth choice and paid $12.20 to win.

“I was very impressed tonight, the way he did that, you know, first -over. He never quit,” said Blais. “He trained good this week, and I had a good feeling for tonight, but I knew we had a big division, there were lots of good horses in that race.”

McClure was also the pilot when Only For Justice set a new track and Canadian record for a freshman trotting gelding on a half-mile track, winning the final C$65,600 test in 1:57 3/5. Only For Justice was unchallenged through fractions of 28 4/5, 59 1/5, and 1:28 4/5, then drew off in the final quarter to win by seven lengths. Fingals Wave (Chris Christoforou) finished second, with Gold Edition (Blair Burgess) third.

“He wants to race. He gets around a half so handy and he can leave the gate so fast, this place is his bread and butter,” said McClure. “He’s a very fast horse though. He deserves to be in the Super Final for sure.”

Dany Fontaine trains Only For Justice, a gelded son of Justice Hall, for owner/breeder Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc. Only For Justice is now a three-time winner, and he pushed his bankroll to C$69,426. Only For Justice is the first foal out of Intense America (Taurus Dream, 1:53, C$312,610). He was dispatched as the 3-1 second choice and returned $8.80 to win.

Back in the first C$65,600 grouping, Knight Angel (Sylvain Filion) won in a then-track and Canadian record of 1:58 1/5 (gelding). Public choice Royal Rob (Trevor Henry) was in command at the 29 2/5 first quarter, 1:00 half, and 1:29 1/5 three-quarters, but Knight Angel, who had gone first-over from the third spot nearing the half, pushed by near the end of the mile, prevailing by a neck. While Your Up (Scott Coulter) collected third.

The victorious Archangel gelding is trained by Shane Arsenault, who also co-owns him with partners Justin Fisher, Gary Leeming, and Giuseppe Mascia. Knight Angel broke his maiden in his sixth chance, and he has now pocketed C$68,178. Knight Angel, who was bred by Dr. Bjodne Eskeland, fetched C$22,000 at the London Selected Yearling Sale and is out of the Tagliabue mare Dream Taker (1:56 1/5, C$85,770). Knight Angel was sent off as the 3-1 second choice and paid $8.00 to win.

--quotes courtesy of the Ontario Sires Stakes--