The second Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Super Final event of the Woodbine Mohawk Park Saturday night (Oct. 15) card was a war of the noses, as a pair of two-year-old trotting males were nearly inseparable at the wire.
DWs Point Man and Louis-Philippe Roy got the first call, but quickly settled behind fast-leaving Snowpiercer from post eight driven by Paul MacDonell, as several rivals went off stride in the early going. Osceola and Doug McNair tightened in third and Deadline Hall and Chris Christoforou followed from fourth to the :27.4 opening quarter.
From first over, Osceola sprinted to the front nearing the :57.1 half as Oh Look Magic gained steadily from second-over sixth, moving to third as the stretch loomed. Osceola reached three-quarters in 1:25.3, then suddenly went off stride coming off the turn, allowing Snowpiercer to inherit the lead.
DWs Point Man stepped out to take his shot from third, as late-charging Passarino — urged on by James MacDonald — took on Deadline Hall. Photos were required to decide both win and show at the end of the 1:55.1 mile. DWs Point Man prevailed at 9/2 odds in a tight nose over Snowpiercer.
After the race, Louis-Philippe Roy said he wasn’t sure he passed MacDonell's colt in time.
“I would say 10 feet before the wire, I was pretty sure I wouldn't get there,” said Roy. “I felt like Snowpiercer just gave up very, very late there, and mine just kept trotting and never really gave up. I didn’t really know if I had got there in time or not.”
As for winning strategy in a race with multiple breakers, Roy said familiarity with OSS rivals was the best advantage.
“If you have too much in mind, I feel like that's when you make mistakes,” said Roy. “You go in there, you know the horses – you’ve been racing against them. For example, Snowpiercer, I was following him in the last Gold. I was in the three-hole and he was on front and he looked a little lost [and] almost pulled up… So following him today, I knew that he might do that, getting out on the first turn, and I wasn’t going to panic. I just wanted a good trip for my horse tonight.”
The victory was DWs Point Man’s fifth in 10 starts this season and a new lifetime mark.
The My MVP-Yankeedoodlecandy gelding was bred by Jeffrey Ruch of Innisfil, Ont., and began the year at Saratoga Raceway before capturing his OSS Gold debut on Aug. 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
He is trained by Richard Moreau for owners Ecurie CSL and 9174 7998 Quebec Inc. of Sorel-Tracy, Que.
“I got the best out of it. I got a two-hole trip,” said Moreau. “I was hoping for a cheque, but the biggest thrill was when [Hall of Fame driver/racing analyst] Randy Waples said that he knew the other horse [Snowpiercer] did win, and then they announced that mine had won. That was a big stress relief.”
Moreau said he is happy for the connections of DWs Point Man.
“The owner invests lots in this and it paid back, you know,” said Moreau. “I imagine he will spend the winter in Quebec, at his owner’s farm, and hopefully we go from there. The season is over now, I think. He deserves a break.”
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Ontario Racing)