Daylon Magician, fresh off equaling the world record for three-year-old trotters at Flamboro Downs, earned his eighth win this season for trainer/owner David Lemon as he stopped the clock in 1:53.3.
VC Chocoholic (Brian Sears) was the quickest off the gate from post seven and established command past the first quarter in :27.2. Luckycharm Hanover (Dave Miller) was in the pocket with this year's Hambletonian winner, Broad Bahn (George Brennan) in third.
The field would remain the same past the mid-way point in :57.
Broad Bahn began the first over attack around the final turn with Daylon Magician tracking him. Blue Porsche (Jody Jamieson) was also well positioned third over with Whatever It Takes (Andy Miller) saving ground in sixth.
As VC Chocoholic passed three-quarters in 1:25 the entire backfield was closing in.
In deep stretch, the tempo-setter began to tire as Daylon Magician was able to score the victory by a neck over Broad Bahn with 70-1 longshot, Sim Brown finishing third, beaten just a half length. Also advancing to the rich final is Whatever It Takes who finished fourth and the fifth place finisher, Blue Porsche.
"He's just a nice horse, he can race with anybody. If he gets the right trip he could get beat or he could beat them," Moiseyev said following the victory.
Turning for home, Moiseyev believed he was in a perfect spot to find the winner's circle.
"I was well-positioned, second over at the head of the stretch," he said. "There was a bunch of good horses scattered across the track, but I thought my horse would finish a little better, but he did have three-weeks off.
"He needed the time off and I agree with why Dave (trainer David Lemon) did that, because he had some tough racing and he's got a lot more to come."
Daylon Magician, a son of
Kadabra,
now boasts career earnings of $550,777. He has
selected post two for the final.
In the second elimination, Dave Miller guided
Manofmanymissions to a 1:54 score.
The son of Yankee Glide was in no hurry in the beginning as Whiskey Tax (Randy Waples) quickly established command and led by the opening panel in :27.3. Highland Thunder (Chris Christoforou) was sitting second with Chapter Seven (Mike Lachance) in third.
Manofmanymissions couldn't find a seat along the rail so Dave Miller sent the 1-2 favourite to the front from the backfield and passed the half in :57.
Chapter Seven began the first-over attack from fourth as Manofmanymissions marched past three-quarters in 1:25.2.
In deep stretch, the battle was for second as Manofmanymissions was ona comfortable hand drive to win by one and three quarter lengths. Dejarmbro (Brian Sears) exploded from the backfield to finish second over Whiskey Tax. Imperial Count (Scott Zeron) and Chapter Seven finished fourth and fifth, respectively to advance to the final.
Fresh off winning the $500,000 Colonial Trot, Miller assured that race set Manofmanymissions up well for this event.
"He raced very well that day at Chester," Miller said. "He came first-over and put away Broad Bahn and Pastor Stephen and he just raced tremendous."
After being unable to find a hole in the early going, Miller had no choice but to brush his charge to command.
"I tried to float him off the gate and try and get a seat, but that didn't work out," he said. "When everything settled, I put him on the lead and he had no issues getting there. My horse is very game and very willing; he just wants to do it."
Manofmanymissions, a six time winner from eight starts this year, lifted his lifetime earnings to $924,900 for trainer Erv Miller and owners Manofmanymissions Stable, Mystical Marker Farms LLC and BiasuzziStable.
He paid $4.80 for the win.