Woodbine Mohawk Park featured the opening leg of the Ontario Sired Harvest Series for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers and trotters during its 10-dash card of harness racing on Thursday, Oct. 24.
The series is for Ontario-sired two-year-old colts and geldings, non-winners of $30,000 in 2024 as of midnight, Sept. 30, 2024. Thursday's opening leg action featured a single $17,000 trotting dash and a pair of $17,000 paces.
Favoured Move Your Mass ($2.90; pictured above) received his cue from driver Bob McClure heading into the far turn of the trotting event just past the half, and he looped leader Bangor Mafia (James MacDonald) with ease just past the 1:29.1 three-quarter mark. Jody Jamieson found room for That Dude turning for home to make it interesting but Move Your Mass held on for the three-quarter length tally in 1:58.1. Jayport Cash (Trevor Henry) closed best of the bunch to round out the top trio.
Bruce MacDonald trains four-time winner Move Your Mass (Muscle Mass - Stonebridge Gilder) for owner Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont. The bay gelding now boasts $33,280 in his bankroll.
McClure doubled up in Harvest Series action, taking the first pacing division with Bruno No No No ($11.20). That son of All Bets Off said yes, yes yes with an impressive closing kick to pick off his rivals for his first career victory, stopping the clock in 1:53.1. Wicked Storm (Jamieson) was more than two lengths back in scecond, with Connor B (Phil Hudon) in the show spot.
Returning to the races for trainer Gabriella Sasso after a pair of miscues in summer stakes action, Bruno No No No (All Bets Off - Winbak Alice) is owned by Jeff Courchesne of Cambridge, Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga and Tony Aarts of Putnam, Ont.
Merrow ($16.70) prevailed in the second Harvest Series division for pacing colts and geldings. Sitting third along the rail turning for home, driver Tyler Jones navigated the son of Stag Party - Siobhan through traffic to pick off HP Bellissimo (James MacDonald) in the final strides of a 1:54.1 mile. Wicked Joules (Nick Boyd) showed good late kick to nab show dough.
A two-time winner from nine outings, Merrow is campaigned by Don Lindsey for owner Suheil Ashkar of Liverpool, N.Y. The mile time matched his career mark set in July, and the winner's share of the purse lifted his earnings to $37,340.
The second leg of the Harvest Series for the boys is slated for Oct. 31, with the $30,000 finals slated for Thursday, Nov. 7.
For the results from Thursday's card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)