Ghostly Casper pushed first-over through the final three-eighths of a mile and was untiring down the stretch in an impressive victory at 21-1 in the $40,000 Open Trot on Sunday, March 19 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Mark MacDonald tucked the stallion away in fifth from post three while Hasty Bid (James MacDonald) went to the lead and set a :27.2 first quarter before releasing Sid The Kid (Tyler Borth) approaching the half in :57. Ghostly Casper was flushed out by Pennteller Hanover (Bob McClure) as they bent into the last turn, and he immediately set to work making inroads on the leader.

He moved to within two lengths of Sid The Kid at three-quarters in 1:25.3 and chased him into the lane with favourite Hasty Bid locked in the pocket. With the backfield encroaching in deep-stretch, Ghostly Casper overpowered Sid The Kid and reached the line in 1:53.3 with a neck ahead of Hasty Bid, who shot up the inside late. Mr Bluebird (Travis Cullen) made a strong move for show.

Ghostly Casper has won three straight starts since starting the year 0-for-10. The 2023 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final champion, who was also celebrated in the winner's circle on Sunday for reaching $1 million in earnings with last week’s victory, took his first top-level event of the season at Mohawk. Ben Baillargeon trains the six-year-old son of Resolve-Cool Creek Breeze and shares ownership with Teresa Davidson of Milton, Ont., Santo Vena of Cedar Valley, Ont. and Nunzio Vena of Bolton, Ont. Ghostly Casper is now 17-for-94 lifetime with $1,029,312 in the bank. He paid $45.10 to win as the longest shot on the board.

Two $14,000 second-leg Pop-Up Series divisions went forward on the card. Livinthebeachlife ($2.80) doubled up in the series in a romp in the first split, and Thai Tour improved on his near miss in the first leg with a victory in the second division. The series is for pacers that have started for a purse of $10,000 or less this year and have not earned more than $65,000 in 2025-2026, or are in for a tag of $12,500.

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

(Standardbred Canada)