Two-time O'Brien Award winner and Canada's leading driver for the third consecutive year in 2023, James MacDonald, rung in the new year at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (Jan. 4) evening with a driving clinic as he won six of the 10 carded races.
As only the second day of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the new season, MacDonald rose his name back to the top of the leaderboard and he kicked off the win series with King Fury in the opener. MacDonald and the Jeff Gillis student got away sixth through the opening panel before racing first over on the outside for the remainder of the mile. With a speedy :28.3 last quarter, King Fury overtook the pacesetting favourite Handsome Hank (Sylvain Filion) at the wire to win by a neck in 1:58. Jonny Boots (Brett MacDonald) completed the triactor.
A sophomore son of Chapter Seven, King Fury ($16.10) added the $17,000 conditioned trot to his resume as his first career victory for owners Gillis and Mac Nichol.
MacDonald followed up in race two with 2023 Pop Up Series victor Goldies Rockin, using a pocket trip and winning by a half length in 1:54 over Golden Leader (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Always B A Star (Jody Jamieson) for owners Sylvain Cote and Robert Bernicky. The Richard Moreau trained five-year-old mare is a winner of 14 races in 69 starts with $106,372. As the designated bettors' choice in the $11,000 distaff claimer, the daughter of Rockin Image paid $5.80 to win.
Returning to victory lane in race five, MacDonald and Stephen Gassien conditioned Gypsy Merlot made every pole a winning one in the $8,000 distaff claiming pace. D Gs Magicmoment (Tyler Borth) finished second and Bookie Baby (Bob McClure) completed the top three. Gypsy Merlot is owned by Beth Doyle for her 35th career victory to go along with $242,266 from 163 career starts. The eight-year-old Feelin Friskie mare paid $6.10 to win from 2-1 odds as the second choice.
Moreau and MacDonald teamed up for a double victory after Hillbilly Jet ($8.80) won by a neck in 1:55 over Playa Duharas (McClure) in second and Greystone Treasure (Guy Gagnon) back in third. The daughter of Ponder won the distaff claiming pace worth $9,000 for owner Normand Beausoleil, moving her career tally to 31 wins with $256,442 banked from 229 track appearances.
Hestonator ($6.30) won by a nose at the light over Stars Treasure in 1:54 for the team of driver MacDonald, trainer Carmen Auciello, and owner Denarben Stables. The four-year-old gelded son of Heston Blue Chip won his second career race from 23 starts in a new career mark, lowering his previous time of 1:54.4. The Serpent (Filion) rounded out the top three.
To complete a six-win night and collect a pair of bookend victories, MacDonald closed out the card with Mcvera ($3.50) from post nine in the distaff claiming pace worth $11,000. The four-year-old daughter of Mcardle won her eighth career race after she won by two lengths in 1:54.4 over Miss Maycee (McClure) and Handbagofcheezies (Austin Sorrie).
The Thursday night six-pack lifted MacDonald's totals to 3,519 career victories with nearly $64 million in purse earnings.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)