After pulling a 26-1 upset in the opening preliminary of the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold for sophomore pacing colts and geldings, Midnight Nation upended another heavy favourite when downing 1-9 choice Stockade Seelster in a $100,400 Gold division on Saturday night (July 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Midnight Nation got away last as Verdun led to a :26.3 first quarter. Stockade Seelster swooped towards the lead from fourth through a :54.3 half and continued to roll through the final turn to three-quarters in 1:22.2. Though, he relinquished the lead in the stretch when challenged by Macs Delight off the corner. Macs Delight took a slight lead as Verdun reengaged and Midnight Nation came barreling into action from last. With a :25.4 final quarter, Midnight Nation landed on the front at the finish by three-quarter lengths in a 1:49.3 mile with Verdun second, Macs Delight third and Stockade Seelster left in fourth.
“He was real good tonight,” said driver Trevor Henry. “They raced hard up front and we got to finish it off. I saw Stockade [Seelster] was struggling and the horse on the inside wasn’t making much ground. I was the only one making ground, so I knew I had a pretty good shot. [Last time in Gold] I drove him and got lucky to get up the rail. Tonight we had to race and he showed that he belongs.”
Richard Moreau conditions Midnight Nation for owners Shaun Vallee and D P V Racing Stable. He won his third race from 10 starts and has now banked $141,905. The Betterthancheddar gelding, who was bred by Princeton Farms, paid $29.70 to win.
Another upset came in the $101,300 second division of OSS Gold when Better B Bold struck a 9-1 blow in 1:50.2.
Moment Is Here cleared command to a :26.4 first quarter and soon yielded command to even-money favourite No Control to a :55.1 half. No Control then endured a first-over blitz from Whatchulookin At as he blitzed uncovered out of sixth to take a narrow lead to three-quarters in 1:24. Moment Is Here angled off the pegs as did Better B Bold spinning for home while No Control kept Whatchulookin At at bay. Moment Is Here sprung towards the lead late, but Better B Bold came charging faster with a :25.4 final quarter to clench a half-length victory. No Control finished third and Whatchulookin At took fourth.
“He’s a very nice colt,” said winning driver Bob McClure. “He hasn’t been tested much. He only had one or two races at two and then got hurt and he hasn’t had a whole bunch of races this year. I think he’s going to keep improving the more races he gets under his belt.
“I thought tonight was the night when it could happen,” siad winning trainer Shawn Steacy. “A short field really set up well for him, and he’s a really fast horse for a piece. So on a night like tonight he can show his stuff.”
A colt by Betterthancheddar and bred by Winbak Farm, Better B Bold races for owners Mark Steacy, David Reid, Landmark 15 Racing Stable and BC Reichheld Stables. He paid $20 to win.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.