Longshot Fusion and odds-on choice Absolution both used front-stepping trips to capture their respective $44,000 Open Pace events on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Fusion gave no quarter despite his 17-1 status in the Open Pace, legging it uncovered on the rim through the quarter in :28 to reach the front nearing three-eighths. Mark MacDonald procured an identical second panel to reach the half in :56 and upped the tempo further to three-quarters in 1:23.2 with Crack Shot (Trevor Henry), the favourite, creeping off the cones from the pocket. Crack Shot drifted to the grandstand side as he closed the gap on the leader but was a length short as Fusion held on for a 1:50.2 victory. Dublin Dasher (Travis Cullen) completed the top three.
Fusion, joining the Open ranks after taking a mark of 1:48.1 in a conditioned event last week, won for the fourth time this year in 20 outings and is now 13-for-41 lifetime with $547,367 in earnings. Dean Nixon conditions the four-year-old son of Always B Miki-Pure Country for Greg Luther Racing LLC of Blacklick, Ohio. A $2 win ticket returned $37.10.
Absolution maintained absolute authority over the pace and defended from a determined Lets N Joy N down the lane to win the distaff event. The five-year-old, also up in class after a career-best score in an upper-level condition, marched three-wide to cross over to command early on the first turn and reached the quarter in :27.1. Trevor Henry reined her in to a :56.2 half, then let her fly to three-quarters in 1:23.4, gaining a small cushion to pocket-sitting Easy Station (Tyler Borth) with no outside threat in range. Lets N Joy N (J.R. Plante) ripped off cover at the top of the lane and motored home in :26.1, but Absolution produced enough late speed to hold on by a half-length in 1:51. Easy Station finished third.
Jack Moiseyev trains Absolution, who is now a six-time Mohawk Open winner this year for owner-breeders Joanne Coville of Moffat, Ont. and Nancy MacNevin of Essex, Ont. The daughter of Mcwicked-Bet Ya is eight-for-27 overall this term and has won 19 times and earned $467,770 in 68 career starts. She paid $2.60 to win.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Fusion winning on Oct. 17)