Mohawk: Ocean Colony leads Metro elimination winners

Ocean Colony and driver Yannick Gingras won the fastest C$40,000 Metro elimination at Mohawk on Saturday night, advancing to the rich final on September 3 with an eye-catching 1:50 1/5 performance.

Ocean Colony, a $115,000 yearling purchase, marched to the front at the quarter in 27 flat before releasing Ideal Wheel with driver David Miller. Ideal Wheel cut a very hot clip under little dispute, with fractions of 54 4/5 and 1:22 4/5. In the homestretch Gingras asked Ocean Colony to pace, and the son of Somebeachsomewhere rolled up to collar his rival, but the two raced as a team right to the line, with a head separating the pair on the wire. Ideal Wheel finished a credible second, with Bobcat Bound edging Darlings Dragon for the third spot.

"It was a big mile tonight," said Gingras. "David (Miller) gave me a good battle."

A winner just for the second time in five starts, the Jimmy Takter-trained colt is owned by Christina Takter, Hatfield Stables, John Fielding, Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld and Sam Goldband.

Windsong Napoleon started the Metro eliminations off with a 54-1 shocker as driver Phil Hudon guided the Art Major-sired colt down the road, clearing to the front through a 27 1/5 opening quarter, and then controlling the issue in a soft 56 second half. From there, the colt knew what to do, holding off Calvin K and Jody Jamieson along the inside by a head in a 1:51 3/5 mile.

"We got good fractions," said Hudon after the race. "I opened up the rail a little and Jody got through, but he (Windsong Napoleon) dug back in."

Windsong Napoleon, owned by trainer Carl Jamieson along with partners Thomas Kyron and Douglas Good, defeated Calvin K, with Classic Pro and Pointomygranson following across the wire.

Sylvain Filion guided 20-1 shot Beyond Delight to a maiden victory in the third and final Metro elimination in 1:51 flat, closing strongly off a hot clip for trainer Tony O'Sullivan. The race saw Bettors Dream as the early leader in 26 4/5 before giving way to Some Attitude prior to the :55 1/5 half. Blood Line and Gingras then put on an explosive move to clear the front and pace away from the field in 1:22 3/5.

Yet once in the homestretch the leader tired, and while there was plenty of weaving and bobbing in the lane, Beyond Delight came home strongest of all on the outside. Blood Line held on for second, with Southwind General coming up the pylons for third. Bettors Dream angled in the stretch and appeared to bother a rival. Multiple inquiries were called by the judges, with the final ruling knocking Southwind General off the board as the colt was inside more than three consecutive pylons. Bettors Dream was elevated to third with R J P moved to fourth.

Owned by Jeffrey Snyder, Michael Snyder and Four Friends Stable, Beyond Delight, a son of Bettor's Delight, doubled his earnings in the process.

"He got locked in last week in the Nassagaweya," said Tony O'Sullivan, the winning trainer. "He's really blossomed in the last three weeks."

Here's how the field will line up for next Saturday night's C$616,000 final -

1. Beyond Delight

2. Darlings Dragon

3. Windsong Napoleon

4. Ocean Colony

5. Calvin K

6. Bobcat Bound

7. Classic Pro

8. Ideal Wheel

9. Blood Line

10. Bettors Dream

AE: Pointomygranson