The Ontario Sired Heritage Series wraps up Sunday at Woodbine with the Lake Ontario Stakes and Ashbridges Bay Stakes, the longest races of the eight-event series at 1 1/16 miles.
In addition to purses totaling $800,000 for four races each for Ontario sired three-year-old colts and geldings and three-year-old fillies, there is a prize of $20,000 for the most points, followed by a $10,000-second place prize and $5,000 for third. Points are awarded from first (10) through sixth (1).
Dr. Brian Van Arem’s homebred JUNIOR HOT SHOT, trained by John Ross, is in the driver’s seat for the first-place prize in the colts and geldings division. The son of Souper Speedy – Executive Dreamer by Bold Executive is second to Live Lucky with 19 points after three races, but Live Lucky has not been entered in the Lake Ontario Stakes.
Junior Hot Shot, bought back by Dr. Van Arem’s T and T Racing Team, has competed in the three previous Heritage Stakes races. The dark bay colt was second in the Lake Huron at five furlongs on turf, was fifth in the Lake Super on turf at six furlongs and recently won the Lake Erie Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt at Fort Erie.
While the colt has not tried 1 1/16 miles or two turns before, he has been freshened since September and is working impressively.
Junior Hot Shot only needs to finish fifth to win the first-place points prize. Justin Stein rides.
Summer Commander, currently third in points with 12, could steal the first-place prize with a win and a worse-than-fifth place finish by Junior Hot Shot. The son of Silent Name (Jpn) was third in the Lake Huron and second in the Lake Superior for owners Anne and William Scott and trainer Stuart Simon.
The $100,000 Lake Ontario Stakes is race 11 of 12 on Sunday.
On the filly side, LITTLE TEDDY has already won the first place prize of $20,000 for points. The York Tech Racing Stable grey gal won the Georgian Bay Stakes, was second in the Thunder Bay Stakes and this in the Rondeau Bay Stakes. This will be the Frac Daddy filly’s first try at a route distance. She is trained by Santino DiPaola.
The filly to beat in the Ashbridges Bay is HURRICANE CLAIR, winner of the Wonder Where stakes on turf and third in the Woodbine Oaks. The Martin Drexler-trained daughter of Silent Name (Jpn) has not participated in any Heritage Series stakes.
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