A relentless JGs Pal proved to be up to the task as he and driver Travis Henry went first-over to take the $30,000 Pop-Up Series Final which highlighted the 10-race card on Monday (Oct. 6) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Scratched down to a field of nine, JGs Pal left from the rail at odds of 7-1 in the scratched down field of nine trotters who started for a purse of $12,000 in their last three starts prior to the series. JGs Pal floated away in fifth early while Chip Happened (James MacDonald) tripped the timer through a quarter of :27.1 inside a parked and pressing Mercutio (Doug McNair). Mercutio relinquished control on the backstretch to the 1-2 favourite Muscle Fashion (Jody Jamieson) through a half of :56.1 when JGs Pal began his first-over charge, powering alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:24.2. 

JGs Pal put away a stubborn Muscle Fashion midway though the lane when Chip Happened began to rally to his outside. Trotting home in :28.2, JGs Pal held Chip Happened at bay by a neck in a career best 1:53 while Muscle Fashion held for third.

JGs Pal has won three of 16 on the season and 14 times in his career. Trained and co-owned by Bryan Lawrence (Hanover, ON) along with Stuart Lawrence (St Jacobs, ON) and Smurk Inc (Elmira, ON), the four-year-old gelded son of Tactical Landing-Dressed To Impress has earned $113,866 lifetime.

In addition to the final, Mohawk hosted the opening leg of a Pop-Up Series for Ontario sired trotters who are non-winners of $100,000 as of Oct. 1. 

The two $22,000 divisions for trotting colts were won by Alimony Mike (Tyler Jones, $6.50) in 1:54 and Sunday Shoes (Doug McNair, $3) in 1:53.4. The lone filly division was won by Medley Seelster (Doug McNair, $4.90) in 1:53.4.

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

(Standardbred Canada)