In the opening split, Cumin First got away second early, made a quarter-pole move to the front and then cruised to a decisive 1:56.3 victory for driver Rick Zeron.
The daughter of Striking-Look Whos Cumin scored by 6 3/4 lengths over Mystic River with Cuddler landing the show spot.
It was the first start of the 2009 season for Cumin First and Zeron could not have been any more pleased with how she performed.
“She was listening to see if anyone else was coming,” Zeron said. “Her ears were moving back and forth so she was still full of herself at the finish line.”
The clocking was a new lifetime mark for Cumin First, who is trained by Frank O’Reilly for Mary Anne Lauzon, Dr Ruth Irving, Jim Fielding and John Jesson.
Mets Inn, making just her second lifetime start, converted from a pocket trip to upset in the second elimination for driver Randy Waples, in 1:57.4. The daughter of Mutineer-Mets Rival held off Chicy Micky, while Magic Sassy and Daylon Mystique dead heated for the show spot.
Mets Inn is trained by John Bax and owned by her breeder, Winbak Farm of Chesapeake City, Md.
In the final elimination, Butana took advantage of a fast first half and rallied from off the pace for driver Chris Christoforou, in 1:57. The daughter of Angus Hall-Seductive turned back SOS Respect, with Baskin Wonder landing the show spot.
Butana, who went winless in just two rookie outings, is now two-for-two to start her sophomore campaign for owner-trainer Charalambos Christoforou of Campbellville.
The $130,000(C) Ontario Sire Stakes Gold final will be contested next Sunday night at Mohawk as part of the annual Family Fun and Fireworks Night.
The field, in post position order, will include Cumin First, Chicy Micky, Magic Sassy, SOS Respect, Daylon Mystique, Mets Inn, Mystic River, Cuddler, Butana, and Baskin Wonder. (WEG)