Rookies rolled into Mohawk Racetrack for a four-pack of Autumn Series events Thursday evening, with colt and gelding trotters sparring in a set of divisions and colt and gelding pacers going at it in the other two splits.
Scene A Magician blew away the foes he faced in his $16,000 trotting assignment. Jack Moiseyev got away second with the Jennifer Pinkerton pupil, but he had him on the move to claim the top spot just as the opening quarter flashed up in :28.3. On the lead through middle panels of :58.2 and 1:28.1, the son of Daylon Magician-Scene Duharas then used a :29.3 kicker to win by six lengths in 1:57.4. LMC Mass Gem was next best, with Noble Prize rallying to finish third.
It was the third victory in six starts for the gelding who is owned by Pinkerton and partners Daylon Farms Ltd of Komoka, Ont. and Gordon Yeo of Calgary, AB. The $8,000 payday bumped his bankroll to $41,020.
Vesuvio Bi was a popular winner over the trotting foes he faced off with in the second division. The son of Manofmanymissions-Palm Beach trotted to the front and hit the quarter pole in :29 before taking a pocket trip behind Charmbo Chrome through middle splits of :58.2 and 1:28.4. Mario Baillargeon had Vesuvio Bi back out and driving after the lead as the field travelled to the three-quarter pole, and a :29.2 closing panel was more than enough for the colt to seal the deal. He won by three lengths over Charmbo Chrome in 1:58.2. Rounding out the top three finishers was Resita.
Martin Lachance trains the rookie for Lachance Racing Stable of Millstone Twp, NJ and Dan Mogridge of Hillsdale, Ont. It was the first win in two tries for the youngster who pushed his earnings to $9,120 with the victory.
Next up were the pacing colts and geldings, and Mach Deja Vu led things off with a two-length triumph in front-stepping fashion for driver Chris Christoforou.
The Dany Fontaine pupil sprinted to the lead from Post 5, and the gelding successfully whacked out fractions of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:26.2 before kicking home in :29.1 to defeat Osborne Seelster in 1:55.3. Tremendous Play rounded out the Trifecta ticket in the $16,000 affair.
It was a maiden-breaking win for the son of Mach Three-Shannon Deja Vu, who is owned by Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc of Montreal, QC. The freshman has banked $22,047 to date.
Dreamfair B J blew away the competition in the second division. Billy Davis, Jr. picked up the live catch-drive on the gelding, and the son of Big Jim-Dreamfair Orchid responded with a career-best clocking of 1:54 in the six-length score.
Davis got away sixth with the Pat Fletcher pupil while Trident Seelster marched to the top and fired past the quarter pole in :27.1. Dreamfair B J started a first-over rally in the backstretch, and he sprinted to the lead shortly after the half-mile marker flashed up in :57.2. Dreamfair B J cruised past the three-quarter pole in 1:26 before storming home in :28 en route to thumping race favourite Bills Fella and third-place finisher Brave World.
John Lamers of Ingersoll, Ont. bred and owns the rookie who improved his record to 2-1-1 from eight starts. He’s banked more than $28,000 in his career.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.