Sophomores shine in SBOA Finals

MILTON, May 11, 2024 – Big time performances was the theme of the night in Saturday’s SBOA Stakes Finals at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

All four SBOA Finals for Ontario sired three-year-olds were held under cool and rainy conditions at the Campbellville oval.

Top Pepsi North America Cup eligible Funtime Bayama ($2.80) made a statement with a 1:49.4 score in the $127,000 SBOA Colt Pace Final.

Funtime Bayama and driver Sylvain Filion rushed to the lead from fourth in the second-quarter under a hot a battle, hitting the half in :53.4. After catching a :29.2 breather, the son of Hes Watching sprinted home and away from rivals to win in a career-best 1:49.4.

Unrivaled Hanover was second, beat 3 ¼ lengths. Storm Shadow and Do Better completed the top-four.

“At the half we were rolling pretty good,” said Filion. “When I saw the timer I said ‘oh we were rolling tonight’. That’s why down the lane I just kept his attention a bit and he just took off.”

Funtime Bayama is owned Bayama Farms and trained by Richard Moreau. He’s now two for two to start 2024 and has six wins from nine career starts, earning $322,270.

Murray Brethour trained Griff ($19) showed his determination to win the $124,000 SBOA Colt Trot in 1:53.3

Driven by James MacDonald, Griff showed gate speed to launch out and land in the two-hole behind Convoy Hall. Those two trotters would go one-two throughout, posting clips of :26.4, :56.1 and 1:25.

After gapping the leader a bit in the turn, Griff dug in and mowed down Convoy Hall to win by half a length in a career-best 1:53.3. Willowtime was third, while Elegant Resolve was fourth.

“He’s great gaited and I said if we’re going for money we’ve got to give him a shot,” said MacDonald. “He got out of there good on the right foot and the rest was just lucky. He was struggling a bit in the last turn and when we straightened up, he dug right back in. He showed some guts. Good effort from him for sure”

A gelded son of Muscle Mass, Griff was making his season debut Saturday and has now won four of eight starts and earned $285,200 for owners Jeff & Lori Thomson, Brethour and Kyle Northover.

Its A Love Thing ($5.60) got up the inside late to win the $141,500 SBOA Filly Pace Final in 1:49.4 for driver James MacDonald and trainer Dave Menary.

Pass Line, who was the slight favourite over the winner, followed several movers in the second-quarter up to the lead, reaching the half in :54.4. Its A Love Thing sat buried in the two-hole swinging for home and loaded with pace.

Its A Love Thing would find the inside lane late and got up to edge her stablemate by a length in 1:49.4, pacing a :26.1 final-quarter.

“I knew if I could get some daylight somewhere she was probably going to give me a good run,” said MacDonald. “She’s had a lot of bad trips in her life and overcame pretty much all of them. When she gets a good one she makes no mistakes.”

Sorcha Seelster finished third, while Odds On Platinum was fourth.

A daughter of Bettors Delight, Its A Love Thing was a hard-closing second in her elimination. She now has seven wins from 14 starts and over $600,000 earned for owners Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, Josh Green and Rich Lombardo Racing.

Susie Kerwood trained R Liza ($7.50) was able to edge heavy favourite Willys Home Run in the $138,400 SBOA Filly Trot Final.

Willys Home Run rocketed out to set fractions of :26.3, :56.1 and 1:25. R Liza and driver Jody Jamieson looped from third to second going to three-quarters, tucked in behind the leader and popped up to muscle by for a victory of a head in a career-best 1:53.1.

“This mare was so good last week,” said Jamieson. “I stayed in quite a long time last week and when I did get out she wanted out, she was like a caged animal and just trotted so hard. She did the same thing today and she beat a great champion, not by much, but we beat her that’s all that matters”

P L Rainbow Dash was third, while Sue Anne was fourth.

A daughter of Muscle Mass, R Liza is now two for two to start her season and has a career record of five wins from 10 starts and close to $200,000 earned for owners M And L of Delaware and Alabama Harness Associates.

Live racing resumes Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7:10 p.m.

Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms