Harvest Series action continued for the male pacers and trotters on Thursday (October 24) at Woodbine Mohawk Park and it was a bumper crop for driver Jody Jamieson.
Jamieson, who's approaching 8,000 career wins as a driver, added three tallies to his lifetime total on Thursday night with all three wins coming in the second leg of the Harvest Series.
The only Harvest division not featuring Jamieson in the winner's circle was the first series contest of the evening. No fault of his, however, as he didn't have a drive in the field of seven rookie pacers.
Sundown Kid made easy work of six rivals, going gate-to-wire in an impressive 1:53.3 score for driver Trevor Henry and trainer Bob McIntosh. After early fractions of :27.3, 57 and 1:25.4, Sundown Kid sprinted home in :27.4 to trip the timer more than three lengths better than Sixfingerfreddie (Doug McNair) with Rockin Roll Beach (Louis-Philippe Roy) closing well for third.
A homebred owned by Robert Mcintosh Stables Inc. of Windsor, Ont., C S X Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio and Dave Boyle of Bowmanville,Ont., Sundown Kid (Sunshine Beach - Well Pondered) picked up the second win of rookie campaign and lowered his lifetime mark (taken at Grand River Raceway) by more than three seconds.
The Harvest trotters hit the track in the next race, and Jamieson engineered the winning steer with Beyond Ordinary. Sitting third early, Jamieson pressured favourite HP Muscle Dancer (Sylvain Filion) first up heading to three-quarters and then tucked into the pocket around that final turn to braven for the stretch drive. The strategy worked as Beyond Ordinary powered past the public choice in deep stretch for the 1:57.3 maiden-breaking score. Secrets Justice (Bob McClure) was next best, two lengths back of the leader with HP Muscle Dancer rounding out the top three.
Jenny Melander trains and co-owns Beyond Ordinary (Kadabra-Allmar Victory) along with Noonan Harness Racing LLC of Wind Gap, Penn. The trotting colt picked up his first win his lifetime appearances.
Simsalabim gave Jamieson a sweep of Thursday's Harvest divisions with an emphatic victory over his seven rivals. With a first-over move in this division as well, Jamieson was able to clear to the front ahead of temposetter True Brew (James MacDonald) just after the third quarter and Simsalabim did the rest. A three-length lead widened to more than eight lengths at the wire, reached in a lifetime best 1:55.3. Favoured Combs Hanover (Paul MacDonell) and I Got The Looks (Sylain Filion) rounded out the top three.
Now two-for-seven as a freshman, Simsalabim (Kadabra - Resortful) is trained by Rene Dion for his co-owners Susie Kerwood of Rockwood, Ont. and Martin Leveillee of St-Blaise-Sur-Richelieu, Que.
Jamieson completed his Harvest hat-trick aboard the late-blooming Beaumond Hanover. Making his first start of the season less than a month ago, the son of Sportswriter - Bittersweet Terror appears to be making up for lost time. With four starts now under his belt, he's won three including back-to-back Harvest legs.
Deploying off-the-pace tactics a week ago, Jamieson placed the 1/9 favourite on the front end before the three-eighths mark this time around and cut the majority of the mile turning for home. Hitting the head of the lane, Beaumond Hanover drifted about six lanes wide but was still pacing strongly through a :27.2 final panel to win in a lifetime best 1:52.3. Pocket-riding The Wild Card (Sylvain Filion) was six lengths in arrears with Remembering Shorty (Paul MacDonell) completing the triactor.
Jack Darling owns and trains Beaumond Hanover, who will head into next week's Harvest Series Final as the likely favourite.
The Harvest Series, for Ontario Sired two-year-olds that are non-winners of $30,000 lifetime as of September 30, 2019, concludes next week with the $40,000A final slated for Thursday, Oct. 31.
To view the results for Thursday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.