Only Take Cash ($56.80) used a first-over push out of midfield to spring a major upset in the first pari-mutuel event of the year for two-year-olds at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday evening (June 21), and Shadowofthenorth ($13.00) gave a well-known voice in Canadian harness racing his first training win — more remarkably, in the first career start for horse and conditioner alike.

In the night's $14,000 second race for trotters, the freshman daughter of Cash Hall stalked patiently from the middle of the field of seven through the early stages. She stayed in as Westfiftysecond (Anthony MacDonald) brushed from fifth to clear up the backstretch before Bob McClure issued the cue for her to make her first-over ascent on the far turn. Only Take Cash put away Westfiftysecond in upper stretch and trotted home impressively in :27.4 en route to a two-length win over fellow Bob McIntosh trainee Judge Ken (Trevor Henry) in 1:59.

McIntosh shares ownership of winner Only Take Cash and runner-up Judge Ken with the C S X Stables and Dave Boyle. Only Take Cash, a McIntosh and C S X homebred, is the fifth foal from Armbro Affair, who made over $450,000 in 30 starts from 2003 to 2005.

In the first two-year-old pacing event of the season, carded as race seven and also worth $14,000, Shadowofthenorth floated from post 9 into an early three-hole tuck, brushed into a slow :59.3 first half. After reaching three-quarters in 1:28.4, he used a :27.3 final quarter to hold his ground against a swarm of late challengers for a 1:56.2 score. See You In Tuscany (Anthony MacDonald) rallied off second-over cover to just miss by half a length as the twos-on favourite, just collaring the first-over Do Ya Think (Trevor Henry) for the runner-up spot.

Ken Middleton (centre) made the journey from caller's box to winner's circle, harnessing Shadowofthenorth to a debut victory

An $18,000 London Yearling Sale purchase by Shadow Play, Shadowofthenorth was driven by Jody Jamieson for trainer Ken Middleton, who co-owns with Jeffrey Seibel and Michael Schaffer. Shadowofthenorth's maiden-breaking debut triumph also gave Middleton his first career training win in his first ever pari-mutuel start.

To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(with files from Woodbine Communications)