A huge win for Ghostly Casper

He didn’t win the Hambletonian, but Ghostly Casper (Resolve) became a hometown harness racing champion as he captured the $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final for three-year-old trotting males on Saturday (Oct. 14) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Tyler Borth held him back in the early going, entering the first turn in seventh, but let the eager colt roll on the outside. Tuscan Prince (Louis-Philippe Roy) landed on top just after a :26.4 quarter set by Hasty Bid (James MacDonald), and Osceola (Doug McNair) marched up from the three-hole to challenge the new leader at the half in :55.

Ghostly Casper had been advancing evenly on the rim and reached the back of the tiring Osceola as they entered the final turn. The latter ducked into a gapped pocket and passed the first-over baton to Ghostly Casper, who flew by him to attack Osceola. The leading pair reached the third station side-by-side in 1:23.4, but Ghostly Casper left his rival behind after a short stretch battle and forged ahead in the last eighth of a mile. Once clear, Ghostly Casper cruised home for the victory in 1:53.

Tuscan Prince got up late for second, and Musical Ride (Sylvain Filion) also passed Osceola to take third.

“It’s awesome,” Borth said after his richest driving win to date. “If you’d have asked me this time last year if I’d be standing here with you right now I would have told you that you were crazy.”

GHOSTLY CASPER REPLAY

Ghostly Casper upped his seasonal tally to four with the victory – two of the other three came in Gold preliminary legs. The colt made the Hambletonian final earlier in the season, finishing ninth, and has hit the board in eight of 16 outings this year. Benoit Baillargeon trains and co-owns the sophomore, who is now four-for-28 lifetime with $619,179 in the banked. Teresa Davidson of Milton, Santo Vena of Cedar Valley, and Nunzio Vena of Bolton share ownership.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink