Sapphire Steve was golden on the front end on Monday (Sept. 14), scoring in the featured $24,000 conditioned trot with driver Mark MacDonald in the sulky.

Sapphire Steve left from the rail as the slight 3-1 second choice in the event for non-winners of three of $50,000 lifetime. MacDonald had Sapphire Steve away in third off the wings while Bittofthebubbly (Jonathan Drury) took charge of the field of 10 to the opening quarter in :27.1. Sapphire Steve was right-lined on the backstretch, brushing to the font before reaching halfway in :56. Sapphire Steve continued to lead the tightly bunched field on the far turn, reaching three-quarters in 1:25 with Bitofthebubbly bump-drafting the MacDonald helmet and Southern Cowboy (James MacDonald) racing first-over and into third.

Turning for home, Sapphire Steve took pressure from Bitofthebubbly who pulled from the pocket and moved alongside the leader. The two slugged it out for the length of the lane, with Sapphire Steve refusing to allow Bitofthebubbly to go by, holding that foe at bay by a neck on the wire in a career best 1:53.4. Dusty Roads (Tyler Borth) rallied from the backfield to be third.

The win was the second in 13 seasonal outings for Sapphire Steve, who has banked $41,875 on the year. The four-year-old Trixton-China Pearls gelding is co-owned by his trainer, Carman Hie of Covan, Ont., along with Peter Kloepfer of Port Rowan, Ont., Kevin Hie of Burlington, Ont., and Scott Hie of Coburg, Ont.

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

(Standardbred Canada)