Structure Fire used off-the-pace tactics to score a surprise victory in the first $40,000 elimination for driver Jason Brewer in 1:54.3. The son of Amigo Hall - Fire Breather sat inside fifth for much of the mile before hitting his best stride in the homestretch to wear down a hard-used Hitithard (Mike Saftic) with P L Cooper (Sylvain Filion) rounding out the top three.
The victory was the third in 12 tries
this season for Structure Fire and a new
lifetime best. Trainer Gary Lance co-owns
the colt along with Trevor Lance and Brian
Samis. The lion�s share of the purse
propelled him past $69,000 in seasonal
earnings. He returned $29.20 in the upset
win.
In the second split,
Equity, who started from the trailing
Post 11, converted off a perfect second-over
trip compliments of driver Randy Waples and
extended his unbeaten streak to seven with a
solid 1:55.1 tally. Angeldrive (Rick Zeron)
set most of the fractions and held gamely
for the place spot with Panz Kafka (Steve
Condren) landing the show position.
�It would have been easier to leave behind the one (post one starter), but I just wanted to make sure I gave him a clean trip,� said Waples, referring to his decision to leave out behind the number four starter Angeldrive. �That was the game plan, to let him settle away and go from there.
�He�s a really good horse, there�s no doubt about that. The only thing that�s going to beat him is some bad luck or if he beats himself. They�ve got him real good right now.�
The son of Kadabra - Earl Of My Dreams now has nine wins in just 11 starts this season for trainer Charalambos Christoforou who co-owns along with the Banjo Farms of Toronto, Ont. He returned just $3.00 for the win and boosted his seasonal earnings to just over $256,000.
The $130,000 OSS Gold Final will go postward next Saturday night at Mohawk. Here is a look at the field in post position order:
1. Equity
2. Senator Hall
3. Hour Lavec
4. Structure Fire
5. P L Cooper
6. Hitithard
7. Angeldrive
8. Celebrity Hercules
9. Panz Kafka