London, Ont., Oct. 11, 2024 – Four $15,000 finals for two-year-olds went behind the gate to wrap up the 2024 Prospect Series Friday at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Here’s a look at how each went.
Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Talbot Ehbeesea and driver Samuel Fillion took early control in the six-horse race, with Vowel For Vanna (Bruce Richardson) in the pocket. Belvedere Kathy and Its Not My Vault both broke stride on the first turn, making for a spaced-out field en route to the 30-second opening quarter.
Vowel For Vanna and Sweet Swirl (Dave Boughton) made their moves well after the 1:00.2 half, with Vanna tipping first-over on the backstretch. Richardson’s filly cleared past the three-quarters, reached in 1:30.3, opening up as Sweet Swirl gained ground uncovered on the final turn.
Vowel For Vanna won going away, ahead of 7-5 favourite Sweet Swirl and Ms Kirsi (third for Scott Coulter). Talbot Ehbeesea broke stride late.
The five-length 2:00.4 win was a second career victory and new mark for Vowel For Vanna (2, 2:00.4h; $15.540), a daughter of Resolve–Harlequin Seelster owned by Morley Bosomworth of Elora, Ont., along with trainer John Holding of Kitchener, Ont. She was bred by Bax Stable (Campbellville, Ont.).
Silver Manalishi was scratched sick. Vowel For Vanna paid $14.00 to win.
Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
The scratch of Better In Heels (sick) resulted in a four-horse field for the pacing fillies’ Prospect final. Miss Danni Song’s listed driver Todd Ratchford was replaced by catch driver Travis Henry.
Darryl Thiessen guided Wicked Spark to a three-length early lead en route to the :29.4 quarter. The 1-5 favourite, Century Lunar (Samuel Fillion), tightened up in second by the 58-second half, but Wicked Spark opened up again on the backstretch and saw her two-length lead evaporated by three-quarters, reached in 1:27.2.
The first-over Miss Danni Song battled Wicked Spark around the final turn, drawing away by over two lengths down the stretch for a 1:57.4 victory. Century Lunar and Greystone Playgirl (Steven Hudon) closed for place and show, respectively.
The winning homebred daughter of Big Jim–Gravel is owned by Ronald Ash of Desboro, Ont., and Mike McLaughlin of Durham, Ont. It was the third win in five career starts for the filly, who is trained by Mary Ratchford.
Miss Danni Song (p, 2, 1:56.4f; $17,210) returned $6.80 to win.
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts
A full field of eight contested this Prospect final. Fast-leaving Bozak (Brett MacDonald) broke on the first turn, leaving Up Front Bb (Ryan Holliday) to get a two-length early advantage on the way to a :29.2 first quarter.
Winchester Phoenix (Austin Sorrie) made a first-over move from third on the turn for the half, pressing the pace to a :59.1 half. The battle raged to three-quarters in 1:28.2, with Up Front Bb parking a tough Phoenix with a three-wide challenge from 4-5 favorite Five Star Lou (Travis Henry) coming on the last turn.
Henry’s colt finished a length and a half ahead of quick-closing Leave It To Lucan (Jason Ryan) at the wire in the 1:58.1 mile.
Five Star Lou (p, 2, 1:55.1f; $22,250) is owned by the Landmark 17 Racing Stable of Landsdowne, Ont., Stephen Downey of Quispamsis, N.B., Dan Mogridge of Coldwater, Ont., and Esa Lahtinen of Cambridge, Ont. The Shawn Steacy trainee was a $30,000 purchase at the 2023 London Classic yearling sale. The final was his fourth career win. The son of Dancin Lou-Hakima won two legs of the Prospect Series.
Five Star Lou paid $3.60 to win.
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts
Mendieta and driver Jason Ryan were first to the front before making an unfortunate first-turn break. That left Casual Guy (Lorne House) in charge to the :29.4 quarter with Horse Tradin (Mark Etsell) following from the pocket. Massedonia (Travis Henry) stepped out first-over from third before the 1:00.3 half, with Gin Master (Austin Sorrie) chasing his cover.
Casual Guy led to three-quarters in 1:30.4 and continued down the stretch, before Bank On Lucas (Dave Boughton) swept from second-last to first in the shadow of the wire. “Lucas” won by a quarter-length over House’s colt in 2:01.3. Massedonia closed for show.
Bank On Lucas (2, 2:00.1f; $17,420) is a gelded son of The Bank–Lucerne De Vie, purchased for $11,000 at the 2023 Harrisburg yearling sale. Bred by Winbak Farm of Chesapeake City, Md., he is owned by trainer Scott McEneny of Carlisle, Ont., Martwest Racing LP of Mississauga, Ont., and Cantucky Farm Inc. of Jarvis, Ont. It was the third career win for the gelding, who had captured two Prospect Series legs.
Bank On Lucas returned an eye-catching $26.00 to win.
Sunday Shoes was a judges’ scratch.
FEATURED PHOTO: Vowel For Vanna winning the Prospect Series Final for two-year-old trotting fillies on Oct. 11, 2024 at The Raceway at Western Fair District (Carter Gimblett Photo)
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