The final of the Harvest Series for Ontario-sired or bred two-year-old trotting colts and geldings will feature a showdown of Floriet and Erinwood Tritton, each two-time winners in the preliminary legs at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The second leg of the series, which is for non-winners of $30,000 in 2026 as of Sept. 30, was contested on Friday, Oct. 23.
In the first and fastest $25,000 trotting tilt, 8-5 second choice Floriet ($5.40) and driver Travis Cullen rallied off the cover of late leader Rally Kalle (Scott Young) to strike in the stretch then held off slight favourite D A Volusia (Jody Jamieson) from behind by three-quarters of a length. Rally Kalle settled for third as the outside closers went by approaching the wire. Floriet trotted his final quarter in :27.4 from his tracking fourth position in the final turn to repeat in the series and lower his lifetime mark to 1:55.2.
A homebred Trixton-Goingwiththeflo colt, Floriet is trained by Shawn Steacy and owned by Natasha Steacy of Ancaster, Ont. He has won twice and hit the board an additional two times in his first eight career starts, with earnings totalling $34,630.
The 1-5 favourite in the other trotting division, Erinwood Triton ($2.50) was a wire-to-wire winner for the second straight week for driver Travis Henry, setting fractions of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:27.1 before holding off pocket-sitter Save You A Seat (Mark MacDonald) in the final eighth of the mile by three-quarters of a length in a 1:55.3 career-best effort. The top two finished well ahead of the rest, with Manking (Jody Jamieson) taking the show honours after regrouping from a break off the gate.
Erinwood Triton, also a winner in his career debut in late June before facing Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroot competition throughout the summer, now has three victories from 10 starts and $49,400 in earnings. Trainer Mark Etsell shares ownership of the Trixton-Angelina Hanover gelding with Ontario partners Robert Newton of Walkerton, Dawn Burnett of Mildmay and Grant Turner of Georgetown.
Cullen also clicked with the Joseph MacIsaac trainee Pownalbay Jimbob in Harvest Series action, springing a 36-1 surprise in the lone $25,000 second-leg freshman pacing colt division as the trailing tier starter picked up cover into the final turn and rallyed wide into the stretch to defeat the front-striding Luv Lou (Trevor Henry) by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.2. Following his runner-up finish in the opening round, the Big Jim-Bettorthanbobbi colt produced a $75.20 win payout while breaking his maiden in his 14th career start for Prince Edward Island owners Ian & Lorna Smith of Stratford and David & Edith Smith of Hunter River.
The $60,000 series finals for the two-year-old colts are scheduled for next Friday, Oct. 30.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Floriet winning on Oct. 23)