Three-year-old pacing colts and geldings sparred in a trio of O.S.S. Grassroots divisions during Thursday’s 10-race card at Mohawk Racetrack, and pacing fillies of the freshman variety kicked off their career in a $14,000 rookie event.
Nascar Seelster rallied from far off the pace to stake claim to the first O.S.S. division for the tandem of driver Randy Waples and trainer Bob McIntosh. The son of Mach Three-No Strikes Against got away next to last in the 10-horse affair, but steady gains in the middle stages of the mile put him into contention in the late going. He stormed home in :28.1 to win by a head over Mach Déjà Vu in 1:53.1. Race favourite Southwind General cut out fractions of :26, :55.2 and 1:23.4 before fading and finishing third.
Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, Dave Boyle, Mardon Stables and James Walker share ownership on the gelding who was unraced as a rookie. He’s assembled a 1-1-1 record from just four trips to the track.
Doc Semalu pulled off an 8-1 upset in the second division for the duo of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Stephane Larocque. Starting from Post 10, the gelding got away in mid-pack and gradually made gains in the middle stages of the mile. Fifth and parked at the three-quarter pole, the son of Mach Three-Signature Seelster kicked home in :28 to win by three-quarters of a length over Dream Of Luck in 1:54. The show dough went to Master The View.
“He’s got a few issues, but he’s got lots of go in him, and we were lucky enough to find a spot there closer to the front and everything opened up in the lane,” said Filion. “It worked out good for us. He showed some grit.”
Bayama Farms Inc and Zoom And Fish Stable Inc share ownership on the sophomore who is 2-for-4 to kick off his 2017 campaign. It was a new lifetime mark for the career winner of $15,915.
Oak Island also rallied from well off the pace, and in doing so he took home the hardware in the final division for driver Bob McClure and trainer Justin Darling. The colt, who was eighth for the opening half of the $19,500 affair, got into the flow going to the three-quarter pole and from there he motored home in :27.4 to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:53.2. Tremendous Play was third-placed-second, while Bills Fells was fourth-placed-third.
Sent off at odds of 13-1, the son of Vintage Master-Sanabelle Island improved this year’s record to two wins from four tries. The four-time winner has banked more than $20,000 to date for Hutt Racing Stable of Paoli, PA.
Thursday’s card also gave Mohawk fans their first look at two-year-olds as pacing fillies -- seven in total –- squared off in a $14,000 tilt.
Heavily-favoured Lady Ella shot to the lead from Post 6 for trainer/driver Rick Zeron, and together the led the group through fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:25.1 before kicking home in :28.3 to win by three lengths over Big Thong in 1:53.4. Taking home the show dough was Book The Bet.
The daughter of Sportswriter-Spun Sugar is owned by Rick Zeron Stables, Dean Lockhart, Cool Cat Racing Inc and James Walker.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.
For the official judges' report from Thursday's card, click the following link: Judges' Report - Mohawk - June 22.