Driver Jody Jamieson guided both Tompkins-Geers Stakes two-year-old colt winners on Friday, June 27 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Two divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stakes -- one for two-year-old pacers and one two-year-old trotters -- wrapped up back-to-back nights of Grand Circuit action at the Campbellville, Ont. oval.

In the $63,950 Tompkins-Geers for pacing colts, Jamieson did some stickhandling in the lane before his charge Tilthecowscomehome rocketed up to nail race favourite Dad at the wire in 1:52.4.

Trained by Jamieson's Hall of Fame father Carl, Tilthecowscomehome got away third and stuck to the rail through the opening three-quarters of a mile. No Waitlist (Travis Henry) did the roadwork, posting fractions of :26.4, :56.4 and 1:25.3. The 1-5 favourite, Dad (James MacDonald), moved out from fourth at the half to go first-up and took command with an eighth of a mile to go, but got picked off at the wire by Tilthecowscomehome, who angled off the pylons in early stretch around one rival, went back down to the pylons to get by another, before angling out around two more rivals and shooting up powerfully in deep stretch to win. No Waitlist finished a game third.

Tilthecowscomehome was a $94,595 Lexington Select Sale yearling purchase for the Jamiesons and partners Joanne Morrison of Beeton, Ont., and Blair Corbeil of Leduc, Alta. Bred by Stephanie Smith-Rothaug, the son of Cattlewash and Dance Until Dawn made his career debut a winning one on Friday off a pair of qualifying scores.

“He actually surprised us in the last qualifier and was really sharp [in] 1:54.3,” said Jody Jamieson post-race. “We expected him to be a good horse, but we just didn’t know for sure…he just didn’t train down great and we actually told people that he’s just a horse we thought, so he’s a nice surprise.

“The stickhandling and a two-year-old that can handle that and still pacing on the line to beat a couple of really nice horses, I’m just giddy about him.”

Tilthecowscomehome paid $13.70 to win.

In The Black delivered a memorable 13-1 upset for trainer Jeff Williams in the $47,250 trotting event.

Beau Knight (James MacDonald), one of the favourites in the field of seven, made a break before the start, which changed the outlook of the contest. Southwind Chester (Bob McClure) cut the mile, posting clips of :28.2, :59 and 1:28.4 while 1-2 favourite Captain Micah (Tyler Jones) sat back in fourth. Driven by Jamieson, In The Black popped out from third on the far turn to approach the leader first-up and powered by in the lane to win by four lengths in 1:56. Tymal Starstruck (Trevor Henry) finished second after a two-hole trip while Southwind Chester held third over Captain Micah.

A son of Green Manalishi S out of Only Take Cash, In The Black was co-bred by the late Hall of Famer Bob McIntosh (along with Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables) and is trained by McIntosh’s former long-time assistant Williams, who earned his first Grand Circuit victory.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Williams of the stakes win. “That’s a nice colt. I thought from day one he’s been one of my best colts. My son, Austin, trains him more often than I do -- I usually go with Canukeepasecret [a Tompkins-Geers filly runner-up on Thursday] -- but when I first started talking to Jody about driving these two for me, it was this guy he was really happy with and had really high hopes for him.”

In The Black is owned by Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont., Tyrone Valley Farm of Bowmanville, Ont., and Hudson Standardbred Stable of Hudson, Que.

In The Black follows stablemate Incantation, who won a division of the Tompkins-Geers last season as one of McIntosh’s final training wins.

“It’s an experience of a lifetime, you can’t replicate it with anybody else as far as I’m concerned,” said Williams of his nearly three decades working with McIntosh. “It’s not lost on me that these babies are McIntosh horses and I think he’d be very proud of them…I think he’d be very proud of what they’ve done and I just try to put in my work and make him proud if I can.”

In The Black is now one-for-two to begin his career. 

He paid $23.80 to win.

In other Friday night action, Bluemea Kiss ($10.90) and driver James MacDonald won the $30,000 final of a Pop-Up Series in 1:50.4 for trainer Nick Boyd. The series was for non-winners of $30,000 lifetime in a minimum of 10 starts in 2025 with starters for a purse of $12,000 or less in their last start also eligible.

Jamieson and MacDonald each ended the night with driving grand slams.

Live harness racing continues on Saturday evening at Mohawk. Post time is 6:35 p.m.

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

(With files from Woodbine; photo of Tilthecowscomehome winning on June 27)