Two-year-olds were out in full force Thursday evening at Mohawk Racetrack as the Campbellville, Ont. oval hosted four O.S.S. Gold Series divisions – two for trotting colts and geldings and the other pair for pacing fillies.
Barney Mac, fresh off a third-place finish in the O.S.S. Grassroots Championship, rallied for a 1:58 triumph in his $95,600 division for the tandem of driver Chris Christoforou and trainer Per Henriksen.
Christoforou got away fifth with the son of Cornaro Dasolo, and that left the lead to Spark A Dream. That foe chopped out first-half panels of :28.3 and :59.2 before self destructing around the final turn. T Barrr came first-over and rushed past the breaking Spark A Dream, and once he cleared he cruised by the three-quarter pole in 1:29.2. Barney Mac commenced his rally in the third quarter, and he then used a :28.2 closing panel to win by 1-3/4 lengths over T Barrr. Finishing a fast-closing third was Torches Pirate.
Tor Jan Larsen of Norwood, Ont. owns the gelding with ADV Racing Stable LLC of Pawling, NY. They recently purchased the two-time winner in mid-September, and they’ve earned a good chunk of change since the acquisition. The lion’s share of the Gold division loot lifted his lifetime earnings to $65,976.
Draft Year was a maiden-breaking winner in his $95,600 contest for the team of driver Randy Waples and trainer Brad Maxwell.
The 2-1 favourite marched to the top and successfully carved out fractions of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:27.3 before using a :29.1 final frame to win by 5-1/2 lengths over Chief Justice in 1:56.4. Levitation, who came first-over going to the half, held on for third.
The son of Kadabra-Allmar Victory improved his rookie record to 1-2-1 from five starts with the win for the partnership of Doug Millard, Tim Murray, Ben Mudry and Howard Taylor. The youngster bumped his bankroll to $56,480 with the victory.
Easy Three pulled off a 9-1 upset in her $95,600 Gold Series division for Team Jamieson.
The daughter of Mach Three-Easy De Vie got away fourth and watched Lady Grande cut the opening quarter in :28.2 before coming under attack from even-money favourite Cardiff. Those two battled through middle panels of :56.3 and 1:24.3, and that helped Easy Three pick up the pieces late. She found clearance in the lane and kicked home in :28.1 to win by two lengths over Lady Grande in 1:53.4. Just Her Luck rounded out the top three finishers.
Jody Jamieson mapped out the winning trip for the pacing lass who improved her freshman boxscore to 1-3-1 from 10 trips to the track. Trainer Carl Jamieson owns the filly with Winbak Farm and George Harrison. She’s potted more than $62,000 to date.
Kendall Seelster turned in a dominant performance in her $94,800 division for driver Randy Waples and trainer Paul Reid.
Waples gunned the daughter of Shadow Play-Kiddie Cocktail to the early lead, and she never looked back. She blazed her way through fractions of :28, :56.2 and 1:24.1 before rocketing home in :27.2 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Firestorm in 1:51.3. The show dough went to Play The Bell.
Owned by 1187422 Ontario Inc, Kendall Seelster now boasts a 4-5-0 record from 10 trips to the track, and she’s hauled in an impressive bankroll that now stands at $426,985.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.