The betting public was on the bandwagon of Saulsbrook Victor on Saturday (April 8) in his quest to win the Free For All at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the third consecutive week, but Wheels On Fire stole that foe’s thunder with a 1:52 triumph following a sweet trip.

In rein to Doug McNair, Wheels On Fire charged to the lead from Post 6 and had the field chasing him to the quarter in :27.4.  Saulsbrook Victor popped out of the pocket in the backstretch and muscled his way to the lead. 

Saulsbrook Victor cruised along through comfortable middle panels of :57 and 1:25.4 before being asked to go into sprint mode.  Saulsbrook Victor widened out his lead as the field sped into the lane, but McNair managed to summon up a :26-second closing quarter from Wheels On Fire who got up to win by a half-length margin on Saulsbrook Victor in 1:52.  Nautical Hanover was a lapped-on third beaten just three-quarters of a length.       

Richard Moreau trains the eight-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Ab Fab for owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.  The classy gelding improved his 2023 record to 2-3-3 from eight starts while pushing his lifetime earnings to $1,056,758.  The victory was the 47th of his career.

In the $32,000 Preferred 2 Pace, it was a major change of tactics for Momas Son Byrne who steamrolled over five foes to win in gate-to-wire fashion for driver Jonathan Drury.

He hustled the Carmen Auciello trainee to the lead from Post 5 and together they led the group through fractions of :27.1, :55 and 1:23 before using a :27.1 final frame to win by a length over Commanding Officer in 1:50.1.  Taking home third prize were the dead-heating tandem of Century Heineken and Highlandbeachlover.       

Dan Sarafian of Unionville, Ont. owns the five-year-old son of Sunshine Beach-Rocket Moma who won for the second time this season and for the 13th time in his career.

Momas Son Byrne was one of the three winners sent out on Saturday evening by trainer Carmen Auciello.  Other wins came with Woodmere Stealdeal (1:50.4) and Doc Houston (1:52.2).

To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.