A pair of $18,000 divisions kicked off the first leg of the Blizzard Series on an action-packed Thursday, Jan. 16 card at Woodbine Mohawk Park, which also included a pair of $25,000 Pop-Up Series finals.
Oh A Legend kicked off the Blizzard Series for three- and four-year-old pacing fillies and mares who were non-winners of $30,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2024, with a convincing score at 1-5.
Driven by Tyler Borth, Oh A Legend got away fifth from post two while 32-1 shot Chasin Rainbows (Tyler Jones) crossed over from post nine to cut the quarter in :28. Action picked up in the second quarter as Space Cadebt (Michael Whelan) popped-pocket to take command before Dirty Diana (Bob McClure) looped from fourth to the front at the half in :57.1. Oh A Legend took her turn with a first-over brush on the far turn, assuming command in 1:26.1 before pacing away by 2-1/4 lengths on the line to score in 1:54.3. Dirty Diana held for place and Space Cadebt completed the triactor.
Trained by Christopher Bush for owner Bernie Klacer, Oh A Legend (pictured above) has yet to finish worse than second through two starts in 2025. The four-year-old daughter of Bit Of A Legend N-O Narutac Rockette is now a seven-time winner for her career with career earnings of $81,941.
In the second division, Stag Royal converted a pocket trip into a 13-1 shocker with driver Scott Young in the bike.
Leaving from post seven, Stag Royal left alertly to get front-end positioning before Fox Valley Tatum (Kyle Husted) took command at 15-1 through a quarter of :28.4. Stag Royal moved to the top once more on the backstretch before 1-2 favourite Cocco Puff Power (Doug McNair) took over from fourth at the half in :57.4.
Cocco Puff Power paced to three-quarters in 1:27, appearing home free before tiring late in the lane and setting up a blanket finish. Stag Royal reached the wire first, a head clear of a surging Love On Me (Travis Cullen) in 1:56.2. Fox Valley Tatum secured the third position over Cocco Puff Power.
Kenneth Skinner owns and trains the winning four-year-old daughter of Stag Party-Royal Dew. The victory was the seventh in the career for Stag Royal, who now sports a career bankroll of $59,847.
The second leg of the Blizzard Series will take place on Thursday, Jan. 23 before the final, which is slated for Friday, Jan. 31.
In addition to the Blizzard Series, a pair of $25,000 Pop-Up Series finals were featured on the 10-race card, with D A Magic Mike romping in the first for $20,000 claiming pacers who were non-winners of $40,000 (Ontario-sired $50,000) lifetime.
Leaving from post seven, D A Magic Mike and driver Phil Hudon were unable to find a seat on the first turn, racing in sixth as Voltage Blue Chip (Doug McNair) raced around Century Jazz (Trevor Henry) through a quarter of :27.3. D A Captainobvious (Tyler Borth) paced to the lead from fourth at the half in :56.4 as D A Magic Mike now raced first-over. The 2-1 favourite on the board, D A Magic Mike cleared on the far turn, sprinting away by 3-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:25.2.
The lead would only continue to grow for D A Magic Mike in the lane, as the pacer powered away to win by 7-3/4 lengths on the wire in 1:54.2. Jimmy Whispers (Austin Sorrie) rallied late to finish second and Allstar Playboy (Tyler Jones) finished third.
A winner in his last two outings, D A Magic Mike is trained by Kyle Fellows for owner Karen Irwin. The four-year-old gelded son of McWicked-Taboo Seelster is an 11-time winner in 32 lifetime starts and has banked $62,584.
In the $14,000 consolation of the same Pop-Up Series, Sporty Bee (Tyler Borth, $6.70) surged from second-over to score in 1:57 for trainer Jack Moiseyev.
The second $25,000 Pop-Up Series final on the card featured the same conditions for the filly and mare pacers, with Fancy Lettering and Doug McNair prevailing in a photo.
Fancy Lettering got away sixth from post three early as Saulsbrook Feisty (Trevor Henry) laid down an opening fraction of :28.1. Saulsbrook Feisty had things her way to the half in :58.2 before Tells Bells (Travis Cullen) surged first-over and alongside at three-quarters in 1:28, with Fancy Lettering poised to strike from second-over.
Tells Bells briefly took a short lead before being swallowed up by the trio of Fancy Lettering and Vendetta Blue Chip (Tyler Jones) from off cover and pocket-sitter Sweet Cravings (Tyler Borth) rallying up the rail late. Fancy Letting got the jump on Sweet Cravings, fending off the 44-1 shot by a nose on the line in 1:57.2 with Vendetta Blue Chip a half-length back in third.
Fancy Lettering earned her first win of the season after having finished second in her first two starts of 2025 for trainer Joe Pereira and owner John MacMillan. The four-year-old daughter of Stag Party-Goldies Bad Girl boasts a career bankroll of $81,400 following her sixth career victory.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)