The top two-year-olds in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series kicked off the first of two nights of Super Finals at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Oct. 10, with the undefeated 10-time winner Beau Jangles capping off the impressive performances.
Bingo Night storms to Super Final victory
Bingo Night and driver Tyler Jones overcame the outside post 10 and powered to a 1-3/4-length victory in the evening's first $300,000 Super Final for two-year-old trotting fillies.
Meeting four-time OSS Gold winner Flowing Tribute, who was hammered down to 1-5, Bingo Night had handed the favourite her only loss in an Aug. 4 Gold event, but the Dustin Jones-trained filly had been plagued by tough trips through most of the summer.
Bingo Night came into the Super Final off solid efforts finishing second in the Peaceful Way Stakes and a division of the Champlain Stakes and a third in her most recent start in a Sept. 29 Gold event.
Trainer Jones made a couple of adjustments in Bingo Night's equipment before the Super Final.
“About two weeks ago, I trained her in the bike at the farm and I didn't really like the way she trained – she was sort of watching me,” said Dustin. “I didn't really want to make a change, but after last week's race, I thought she was hanging a bit so I put side rolls on her and took the cones out of her hood so she would be a bit more on the bit.”
After brisk pre-race scoring, Bingo Night, sent off at 6-1, was sharp off the gate, clearing Barbara May (Trevor Henry) by the quarter pole in :27. Meanwhile, Bob McClure had Flowing Tribute rolling and they took over heading down the backstretch. Flowing Tribute reached the half-mile mark in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.3, but into the stretch, Bingo Night tipped out and reeled in the favourite, going on to a 1-3/4-length victory in 1:53.4. She equalled her lifetime best and the fastest for the division in OSS history, both of which she set in her Gold win in August. Longshots Cupid Hall (Travis Henry), at 17-1, and Very Sassy (Chris Christoforou), a 53-1 chance, finished second and third, respectively, while Flowing Tribute faded to ninth.
This was the first Super Final victory for Tyler Jones, who was full of praise for his father's trainee.
“She took me out of a pickle again, leaving from the 10-hole, that’s unbelievable,” said Tyler. “The trip worked out great. Trevor cleared Bob... I just got the edge like that and let Bob come around and it was just a picture-perfect drive like the last time I beat Flowing Tribute. That’s what I needed to beat her tonight.”
There was a judges’ inquiry following the race into a possible urging violation when driver Jones put the reins in one hand and swung the whip in celebration, but the result stood.
“Going by Bob, he said, 'Nice win' and I thought I had it wrapped up so I gave it a little 'celly' and that was a terrible idea.”
The Green Manalishi S-Cant Stop Tommi filly is owned by breeders Dustin Jones Stables of Hamilton, Ont., and Hebert Horses of Montreal, Que., along with co-owner Sjoblom Racing of Delray Beach, Florida.
“This filly is very good gaited,” said Dustin. “She's not very big, but she looks big on the track."
Bingo Night, who has a record of 10-5-3-2 and earnings of $410,769, could be given a chance to compete in the Breeders Crown at Mohawk. Eliminations are next weekend, with the two-year-old finals on Oct. 24.
“She’s eligible and seeing that she won and it’s in our backyard, we might give her a go,” said Dustin.
Bingo Night paid $15 to win.
A Clean Deal wipes away the OSS competition
A Clean Deal did not pace the most pristine path, but overcame obstacles to win the $300,000 Super Final for two-year-old filly pacers.
In a race with TH Check Me Out (Tyler Borth), Daya (Jody Jamieson) and Jen Tilly (Louis-Philippe Roy) all leaving, driver Doug McNair was content to protect pylon position with 1-5 favourite A Clean Deal and let things settle before making his move to the lead.
Jen Tilly got the first call leading the field of eight past the quarter in :27. The action was then fast and furious, for no sooner had Jen Tilly settled in on the point, she was then challenged by Daya, who cleared to the lead approaching the three-eighths. McNair followed Jamieson’s move, but was met with some hardball, resulting in A Clean Deal being stretched out before making the top just past the half in :55.2.
“I figured there’d be a couple pointing right out of there,” said McNair about the start of the race. “And I figured Jody would want to follow us as soon as the dust settled, but we went a long ways, you know, she went a big trip there… so for a two-year-old pacing filly to do that, it’s fabulous.”
As A Clean Deal led the field into the far turn, Roy moved Jen Tilly out of the three-hole and applied pressure to the leader. Although the two fillies were side-by-side for a couple of strides as they passed three-quarters in 1:23, A Clean Deal rebuffed that challenge, and then, when McNair kicked out the earplugs, his filly took off.
A Clean Deal held off a fast-closing Shes A Bulldog (Bob McClure) by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.2. Daya was third with Jen Tilly ending fourth.
When asked in a post-race interview if he was worried at any point as he turned for home, McNair said, “Yeah, you never know for sure, but I let Louis kind of get almost side by side with us. I figured he used his filly up a little bit early… first-up again, so I wasn’t a whole lot worried about her, but I was worried about the one behind me and [trainer Ron] Burke’s filly [Shes A Bulldog]. They’ve been high on her since the wintertime, so she went a big trip tonight, too.
“It’s everything [to win a Super Final]. We work all year for nights like this, tonight and tomorrow. To get a win, just get one or just to get into the race, is a big deal. And to get a win is just a bonus.”
The win improved the Cattlewash-Ideal Talker filly's record to 6-0-1 in seven career starts and upped her bankroll to $454,464 for trainer Kyle Fellows and owners Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood, Ont., Blair Corbeil of Leduc, Alta., Windermere Stable of New York City, New York and James Ross of Wingham, Ont.
Because of her four wins in five OSS Gold legs prior to the championship victory, A Clean Deal had trouble getting starts with overnight competition and had to qualify instead.
“Well, she made money and then she had too much money and too many wins, you can’t race against aged horses because they just beat you up, so, we’d rather win a qualifier, keep her sharp, keep her brave… and it worked,” said Rob Fellows. “There was two months where she had no racing and that’s hard to do for a filly, because they don’t like training as much as geldings and studs do.”
A Clean Deal was bred by Winbak Farm and was purchased for $27,027 at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
She paid $2.70 to win.
Strobe Lite shines bright on Super Final night
Strobe Lite entered the Super Final for freshman trotting colts and geldings as the divisional point leader and he finished the eighth race at Mohawk as the divisional champion after storming down the centre of the lane to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.2 over track conditions downgraded to 'good' from the rain. James MacDonald steered the winner for trainer and co-owner Benoit Baillargeon.
“It’s amazing,” said MacDonald after the race. “This is the best program in the world, I think. This is the goal, right here, from the time we’re qualifying in June. All those mornings are to end up here in the winner’s circle on Super Final night.”
Sent off as the 3-5 favourite, Strobe Lite and MacDonald floated out from post seven and settled in fifth early as Another Great Mass (Trevor Henry) moved to the lead early with Crunchintheodds (Billy Davis Jr.), Mike Me Up (Jody Jamieson) and Touchedbyanangel (Doug McNair) in tow. On the way to a 28-second opening panel, McNair moved Touchedbyanangel from fourth and brushed to the point, clicking off a :58 half.
“I liked where I got away and then when Trevor made front, I thought it could set up good for me, but Doug was able to re-move and get things his own way and my horse had to earn it tonight,” said MacDonald.
Mike Me Up was the next to move on the backside, bringing Strobe Lite with him. Unfortunately, MacDonald’s cover stalled midway through the second turn, forcing the driver to flip three-wide as the field reached three-quarters in 1:26.2.
“Honestly, I was thinking that Doug drove a perfect race and then he kind of had me in a bad spot, but I was really confident in my horse,” said MacDonald. “I thought I had the best horse in the race, as long as I didn’t get him beat. I just tried to take what the race gave me.”
Up front, Another Great Mass pulled from the pocket and forged to the lead. But Strobe Lite hit another gear and began his charge to the wire through heavy showers, kicking clear in deep stretch to secure his third seasonal win. Another Great Mass held on for second followed by Crunchintheodds.
Strobe Lite returned to the winner’s circle after a disappointing break in the Mohawk Million followed by a head defeat in the final leg of the Gold Series. He has hit the board in nine of 11 seasonal starts, banking $379,921 with the night’s victory.
Strobe Lite returned $3.20 to win.
Sired by Alarm Detector out of the Father Patrick mare Shine Bright, Strobe Light sold for $16,000 at the London Classic Yearling Sale. He is owned by Baillargeon in partnership with Claude Hamel of Orford, Que., Nunzio Vena of Bolton, Ont., and breeder Glengate Farms of Erin, Ont. Baillargeon conditioned O'Brien Award winner Alarm Detector during his career.
“I’m very happy that Alarm Detector finally got one that got the job done,” said Baillargeon of the stallion producing a Super Final champion. “There were a few close calls with a few of them. He’s out of a good mare, a Father Patrick mare, and we’ve always had lots of faith in that colt. He’s big, he’s strong. He can do it.”
Glengate Farms’ Jim Bullock was on hand for Strobe Lite’s triumph, complimenting the efforts of the freshman’s conditioner.
“He’s a very nice colt and Ben has done a wonderful job with him, right from Day 1,” said Bullock. “Ben was telling me last spring that this is a good colt. This is a really good colt and he’s proved it again tonight. We’ve had our ups and downs a little bit. He ran on us in the Mohawk Million, but that’s horse racing. If you don’t want horses to run, don’t buy trotters.”
Bullock also spoke of the strength of the provincial program.
“I think the OSS program is second to none and I think we’ve just sold a lot of Alarm Detectors next week at the London sale. Unfortunately, I don’t have any,” said Bullock.
McClure has karma to thank for landing Super Final champ Beau Jangles
Minutes after keeping Beau Jangles perfect both through 10 career starts and all six of his OSS events, driver Bob McClure stood in the paddock dripping mud and contemplating the karma of how he arrived here with this superstar two-year-old pacing colt, who dominated his $300,000 Super Final on Friday night in a downpour.
Just when he decided to stop travelling to be home more for his kids, he picked up the catch-drive on Beau Jangles because another driver, Louis-Philippe Roy, was away racing horses at The Meadowlands. Roy was originally trainer Dr. Ian Moore’s choice to drive the son of Cattlewash out of Mrs Major Hill.
“I spent the last six, seven years doing a lot of travelling, probably more than anybody in this drivers colony, with Determination and Sylvia Hanover,” said McClure. “It was difficult because you do lose a lot of the local horses and the provincial horses. People understandably want a driver they know is going to be here.
“I made a commitment at the start of this year that I didn't want to travel anymore. I wanted to be home more with my kids. And, you know, the time at home was definitely worth the decision, but Beau Jangles was really worth the decision.
“Maybe it's karma. Maybe it's not, I don't know. You take the good fortune and you do the best you can with it. But I think anybody, anybody in the top 100 drivers in North America could have sat behind this guy and done exactly the same thing.”
That might be a stretch. McClure has driven Beau Jangles perfectly. But, there’s no denying the pacer is another-worldly talent.
On Friday, McClure put the colt on the lead from the inside post and led the field through easy fractions of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:24, coming home in :26.4 to win 2-1/2 lengths over Windor (Doug McNair) in 1:50.4 on a track rate 'good.' Tilthecowscomehome (Jody Jamieson) chased first-over and finished third.
Sent off at 1-9, Beau Jangles paid $2.10 to win.
The victory pushed Beau Jangles's earnings to $1,192,125 for owners Graham Grace Stables of Clifton, Virginia, Kiwi Stables of La Plata, Maryland, and Bolton Stables of Clermont, Florida.
Bred by Tara Hill Stud in Port Perry, Ont., where Cattlewash also stands, Beau Jangles was purchased for $90,278 at last year’s Standardbred Horse Sales Company's yearling auction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The winner of the $1 million Metro Pace (Grade 1) at Mohawk in September, Beau Jangles could take on Grand Circuit horses again in the Breeders Crown at Mohawk. Eliminations are next weekend and Beau Jangles appears raring to go.
“We had to put a mini bit in him tonight,” said Moore of the colt, who was a handful in the winner’s circle. “When I trained him on Tuesday, he was a handful for me then too. So, we're probably going to try earplugs next week.”
Moore said it was the first time he’s had a horse sweep all five OSS Gold legs and the Super Final.
Before Beau Jangles came into his life, the trainer had planned to retire at the end of this season, proving the colt had gifted him with some serious karma, as well.
The OSS season will wrap up on Saturday night with the four $300,000 sophomore Super Finals.
Another milestone moment for Henry
The celebrations weren't finished after the Super Finals as Travis Henry reached a milestone in the 13th race finale. The 36-year-old Embro, Ont. reinsman earned his 3,000th career win with trainer Mark Etsell's Tymal Riggs for his second milestone moment in less than two weeks after topping the $20 million earnings mark on Sept. 28.
Henry pointed the 8-5 favourite to the top in the $12,000 conditioned optional claiming trot and cleared in the backstretch en route to the 1:55 victory over the 'good' going with Mister Magic (Jonathan Drury) pursuing 1-1/4 lengths behind in second. Veracruz (Scott Young) was third. Tymal Riggs paid $5.30 to win.
Henry, who earned his first career driving victory in 2010, has topped the 300-win mark the last three consecutive years and posted a career-best season in 2024 when the horses he drove won 395 races -- ranking second-best in the nation -- and more than $2.5 million in purses. In the midst of his fourth straight $2 million campaign, Henry has won 217 races so far this year.
The party continues for Pop-Up Series streaker
Etherium Party continued his winning ways in the second leg of a Pop-Up Series with a 1:52 score in a $15,000 division held on Friday's card. Owned by trainer Jacob Roberts and Steve Adams, the four-year-old Stag Party-Black Widow Baby gelding has won five races in a row with J Harris driving.
This Pop-Up Series was pacers that were starters for a purse of $10,000 or less in their last three starts, with non-winners of $30,000 in a minimum of 10 starts in 2025 also eligible. Winners of more than $40,000 in 2025 are not eligible.
Two other divisions for male pacers were won by Wallace Hartley, who doubled up with a 1:49.2 career-best effort with Doug McNair driving for trainer Chantal Mitchell, and Roll Em, who scored in 1:52.3 with Tyler Borth in the bike for trainer Rene Bourassa.
Driver James MacDonald swept a pair of divisions for fillies and mares with the Andy Moore-trained Margosgotthecargo winning in a lifetime best 1:50.3 and Kiera Seelster prevailing in 1:53 for trainer Garry Merner.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Ontario Racing & Standardbred Canada; photo, clockwise from top left, Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final two-year-old champions Bingo Night, A Clean Deal, Beau Jangles and Strobe Lite)