Chucky Hanover Perfect In Prelims
Round two of the Ontario Sired Spring Series for three-year-old colts and geldings went postward Friday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and the only repeat winner from the four divisions contested was Chucky Hanover. Hall of Famer Paul MacDonell got away third with Chucky Hanover while Google My Chrome fired to the lead and served up an opening quarter clocked in :28.1. MacDonell teed off with Chucky Hanover in the backstretch, however, and in a matter of strides the favourite took command with authority. Chucky Hanover then wheeled the field through middle panels of :57 and 1:25.4 before scooting home in :27 to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Silk Road Smash in 1:52.4. Greystone Ian O closed sharply to finish third.
The gelded son of Hes Watching-Childs Play improved his 2022 record to 2-1-0 from three assignments with the victory. The career winner of $37,990 is owned by GLB Stable of Lakeview, NS. In the second division for pacers it was Final Cheeserecipe turning a two-hole trip into a 30-1 upset score for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Blake MacIntosh. The gelding shot to the top and wheeled the field past the quarter pole in :28.2, but in the second quarter it was race favourite Sport Secret who rushed up to take the top at the mid-way point in :57.2. The new leader then zipped past the three-quarter pole in 1:24.2 before getting hauled down the closing strides by Final Cheeserecipe. He prevailed by a head over Sport Secret. Whiskey Break was third.
Bred and owned by Dan and Kim Sergeant of Straffordville, ON, the gelded son of Betterthancheddar-Ingrid Hanover won for the first time this season and for the third time in his career. It was a new lifetime mark for the career winner of $26,086. Resolute Bay used a similar trip to capture the first of two division for trotters. James MacDonald put the Harry Poulton trainee on the early lead, and after chopping out the opening quarter of :28.4 he came under attack. The first-over Tuxedo Attire powered up from third and quickly grabbed the lead. He went to post middle fractions of :59.1 and 1:29 before coming under attack in deep stretch. Resolute Bay rallied home in :27.1 to win by three-quarters of a length over race favourite Tuxedo Attire in 1:56.3. Maple Leaf Bound nailed down the bronze medal.
The gelded son of Resolve-Tequila Slammer, who was sent off as the 7-5 second choice in the wagering, is owned by Thestable Resolute Bay of Guelph, ON. It was his first win of the season – and the third of his career. The $9,000 payday bumped his lifetime earnings to $24,913. Century Invader was heavily favoured in the second trotting division, and he didn’t disappoint his army of pari-mutuel supporters. James MacDonald hustled him to the front at the quarter pole in :28.3, and from there they sliced out middle splits of :59 and 1:28.2 before using a :27.2 final frame to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Tymal Tiggs in 1:55.4. Unresolved Debt rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Shawn Steacy trains the son of Resolve-Lady Pixar for Landmark 14, Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc and David Reid. The colt, who was unraced as a rookie, improved his sophomore record to 2-1-1 from four attempts. He’s banked $23,910 to date. To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.