Trainer Blake MacIntosh led the way with winners in two of Friday’s three Champlain Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The MacIntosh stable swept both divisions of the Champlain for two-year-old trotting fillies, while the Luc Blais-trained colt Emoticon Legacy captured the lone Champlain event for open trotters.

Peaceful Way Stakes winner Monalishi (pictured above) held off Lasting Dream by a nose for a coast-to-coast victory in the first $85,623 Champlain Filly division.

Driven by James MacDonald, Monalishi got out to the lead and posted fractions of :29, :59.1 and 1:27.3, while Lasting Dream (Louis-Philippe Roy) sat on her back. Monalishi got some separation at the head of the lane, but Lasting Dream was in full flight late to make it a photo finish. The MacIntosh-trained Monalishi trotted home in :27.1 for the 1:54.4 victory, while the Blais-trained Lasting Dream delivered a :26.4 final quarter. Grand Reserve (Bob McClure), who made a first-up challenge on the far turn, finished third.

A daughter of Green Manalishi S-Pretty Phylly G, Monalishi is now five-for-seven on the season and has surpassed $400,000 in earnings for MacIntosh and co-owner Tim Klemencic of Trenton, Ont.

MacIntosh confirmed post-race that Monalishi does have a spot in next Saturday’s Mohawk Million.

A $2 win ticket on the favoured Monalishi returned $3.70.

Not to be overshadowed by her stablemate, Medley Seelster dug in to win the $84,622 second Champlain Filly division in 1:56.4.

Medley Seelster and driver Jody Jamieson took a look at the early lead, but were forced to settled into a two-hole position through a :28.4 quarter. The duo looped around to the lead at the half in :59.1 and would face pressure the rest of the way. In the stretch, Medley Seelster fought gamely to reach the wire first, holding off a charging Beersnsunshine Deo (Tyler Borth) by a neck and the favoured first-up challenger Southwind Milk (James MacDonald).

A daughter of Wheeling N Dealin-Daylon Melody, Medley Seelster was entering the Champlain off an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold victory on Sept. 6. She is now four-for-10 with more than $180,000 earned for owner Glenn Dyke of Townsend, Delaware.

Medley Seelster paid $10.90 to win as the 4-1 third choice.

Emoticon Legacy turned in an eye-catching final quarter to win the $164,785 Champlain open division in 1:55.1.

Driver Louis-Philippe Roy showed plenty of patience with Emoticon Legacy, as the pair got away seventh and would end up third-over in sixth heading around the final turn after the fractions went in :28, :57.3 and 1:27.1 to three-quarters. In the stretch, Emoticon Legacy swept by his rivals with a powerful :27.1 final quarter to win comfortably by 3-3/4 lengths. Tregaron (Scott Young), who was spotted just in front of the eventual winner turning for home, finished in second, while Wildturkey Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy) finished third after tailing ‘Emoticon’ in a fourth-over position.

A homebred for Determination of Montreal, Que., Emoticon Legacy is by the standout stallion Walner and out of the champion mare Emoticon Hanover. He now has three wins in four starts and has earned nearly $150,000.

Emoticon Legacy is also expected to compete in next Saturday’s Mohawk Million.

He paid $5.30 to win as the favourite.

Roy, Blais and Determination also teamed up for an Ontario Sires Stakes victory on Friday's undercard with Grassroots three-year-old pacing filly point leader Collusion Hanover in the fifth leg of the series. The favoured Bettors Delight-Covfefe filly was a wire-to-wire winner in 1:52 by one length over Swift Talker and Make Out With Me. Collusion Hanover equalled her lifetime mark while earning her third Grassroots victory of the season. 

The other $20,000 Grassroots division also went in 1:52 with the popular Victor Puddy trainee Betterwithglasses prevailing by a half-length over Wicked Leader and Pasta Delight. Trevor Henry was aboard the Betterthancheddar-London Eye filly for his third Grassroots driving win of the night after taking a pair of two-year-old colt trot divisions at Grand River Raceway. Betterwithglasses now has a win and a second in the Grassroots Series since dropping from the Gold level after the Mid-Season Final. Puddy co-owns with 10462217 Canada Inc., Michael Horwood and Lloyd Stone.

The top point earners in the Grassroots Series will face off at the end of the month at Mohawk in the divisional finals on Sept. 28 and the consolations on Sept. 27.

Friday's card also included the second leg of a Pop-Up Series for non-winners of $18,000 this year with a minimum of 10 starts or pacers not averaging $1,400 per start. Trainer Melissa Lamoureux's Delightful Leader (Doug McNair) doubled up in the series with a 1:51.4 victory by a head over Palladium Hanover. The other $12,000 divisions were won by Julie Walker trainee Wildriverbumblebee (James MacDonald) in a career-best 1:50.4 and trainer Dale Fritz's homebred Betterbeflyin (Louis-Philippe Roy) in 1:51.1.

Grand Circuit action continues on Saturday evening at Mohawk with the Milton Stakes final, plus eliminations for the Metro Pace, Canadian Trotting Classic, Shes A Great Lady and Elegantimage. Post time is 7:10 p.m.

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

(Woodbine & Standardbred Canada)