The final OSS Gold Series divisions of the season for two-year-old trotters were contested Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with a set on tap for the colts and geldings plus a two-pack of splits for their filly counterparts.
Presto Change O was a handy winner in her $95,600 assignment for the duo of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Paul Reid.
The daughter of Kadabra-Pretty As My Mom got away third and held her position while Cambridge Kate wheeled the field through first-half fractions of :28.4 and :58.3. She was still the leader at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.1, but the backfield started to come to life. Mercedes Talma edged off the rail late, and that allowed Presto Change O to pick up a position at the rail. Presto Change O shook loose and fired home in :28.4 to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1 over Mercedes Talma. The show dough went to Tommi Canu Hearme.
“Sometimes she loses her focus and she just jumps it off. She’s learning, but she’s a slow learner,” said Filion. “She’s full of potential though. If she stays at it and she keeps her focus she’s probably the best in there, but it’s always a question if she behaves you know. She keeps me on my toes.
“Paul Reid did a heck of a job to have her still going,” added Filion. “I wouldn’t think at the beginning of the year she’d be still going at this time, she was so big and immature, but he worked hard with her and it paid off.”
Robert Key of Leechburg, PA bred and owns the youngster who now owns a 2-1-3 record from nine trips postward this season. The $47,800 payday pushed the filly’s earnings to $105,790.
HP Titania Runner took the second division in a career-best clocking of 1:56.4 for the team of driver Louis Philippe Roy and trainer Rene Bourassa.
Petro Hall motored to the lead and carved out panels of :28.1 and :58.3 before coming under attack around the final turn by Teddys Littleangel. HP Titania Runner was tracking cover from second over. Teddys Littleangel worked her way to the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1, but she couldn’t shake HP Titania Runner in deep stretch. HP Titania Runner secured the line and hit the line first en route to defeating Teddys Littleangel and Petro Hall.
“She’s got as much talent as Dream Nation, for example, but she’s always had something that happened to her that meant she couldn’t show that talent,” said driver Roy. “She win her two first Gold and then she got some breaking issues so Rene (Bourassa) finally decided to go with the trotting hopples, so I think that’s what makes her a little bit safer.”
The daughter of E L Titan-Canaco Runner, who was making her debut with trotting hopples, improved her rookie record to 3-0-0 from seven attempts for Quebec partners Claude Hamel and Michel Damphousse. The lion’s share of the $96,400 purse pushed the winner’s bankroll to $136,150.
Dream Nation continued his dominance in the colt and gelding division thanks to his career-best performance of 1:55.3 for driver Louis Philippe Roy and trainer Jacques Dupont.
Southwind Avenger sprinted to the lead and threw down an opening quarter in :27.2 before giving way to Only For Justice. The new leader hit the half in :56.2 before feeling major pressure around the final turn from race favourite Dream Nation. They were together at the three-quarter pole in 1:26, but Dream Nation pulled away late to defeat the battling duo of Southwind Avenger and Okeanos.
“From Day 1, from the first time I was at Jacques Dupont’s farm training him, he never did anything wrong,” said driver Roy. “He’s actually I think as good, or probably the best he’s been so far over the year, so he’s not tired yet.”
Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc, Ecurie CSL, Gestion C Levesque 2005inc and Marc Camirand share ownership on the son of Archangel-Mississippi Dream. The victory was his sixth of the season from just nine trips to the track. He boasts a solid bankroll totalling $187,290.
Forbidden Trade also won as he pleased in the other division for driver Bob McClure and trainer Luc Blais.
The son of Kadabra-Pure Ivory got away fourth and managed to dodge breakers while Tymal Tullo whacked out fractions of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:28.2. Forbidden Trade was on the move going to the half, and picked up cover behind Fingals Wave as the field headed into the final quarter of the rich contest. A :29.1 closing quarter was all it took for Forbidden Trade to win comfortably by 2-1/4 lengths over Fingals Wave in 1:58.2. CT Conabra came on late to finish third.
“I couldn’t feel better,” said the driver. “He’s in tip-top form and is a real professional.”
Determination of Montreal, QC owns the productive performer who is now 6-for-8 this season. With the win, the rookie’s lifetime earnings climbed to $164,831.
(With quotes from OSS)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.