Move Your Mass is poised for a sweep of the Ontario Sired Harvest Series after the rookie trotter won for the second straight week on Thursday, Oct. 31 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Sent off as the 3-5 choice in the single $17,000 Harvest second leg for trotters, Move Your Mass cleared HP Lucas (Tyler Borth) after a :28.3 opening quarter but then yielded to second choice Jayport Cash (Louis-Philippe Roy) down the backside. Jayport Cash landed on top just before the :58.1 half and maintained his advantage through a 1:26.4 third station. In the stretch, Jayport Cash could not hold off the pocket sitter's rally as Move Your Mass trotted by willingly for the two-length score in 1:56.3. Jayport Cash was next best with Royal Life (Trevor Henry) at the bottom of the triactor ticket.
Move Your Mass (Muscle Mass-Stonebridge Glider) is owned by Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont. and trained by Bruce MacDonald. Now a four-time winner, Move Your Mass sports $33,280 in earnings with the win. He returned $3.30 to his $2 win backers.
HP Bellissimo ($4.00) missed by a neck to Merrow in last week's opening leg for pacers, and those two drew into the same division again this week but Merrow was a sick scratch this time around. Louis-Philippe Roy pointed HP Bellissimo to the top and held his rivals ay bay easily for the lifetime best 1:54.2 tally. Allstar Bruiser (Mike Saftic) finished a game second with Hide The Wick (Doug McNair) in the show spot.
Claude Hamel of Orford, Que. bred and co-owns two-time winner HP Bellissimo (Sportswriter - HP Bellamy) along with Jean Denis Pelletier of Shefford, Que. Conditioned by Chantal Mitchell, HP Bellissimo lifted his bankroll to $40,740 with the win.
Adding his name to the mix of contenders for next week's Harvest final was Scratchin An Itch, who posted a 24-1 upset in the second division.
After 1-9 choice Bruno No No No (McClure) brushed to the lead down the backside, Bunkhouse Boss (Jonathan Drury) started a strong challenge for the lead after a soft :58.1 half. Bunkhouse Boss touched down on top before the pacers hit the far turn, with Scratchin An Itch left to fend for himself first up until the pocket opened up before the 1:25.4 third station. Henry angled back to the wood through that far turn as Shining Moment (Roy) came to call and cleared to the lead at the head of the stretch, but drifted as he made the top. Scratchin An Itch had a seam between horses, and he powered through to pick off Shining Moment by half a length in 1:54. Bruno No No No rallied well to pick up show dough.
Owned by breeders Lenore & Eric Prince of North Buxton, Ont., Scratchin An Itch (Sunfire Blue Chip - Straightoutabuxton) sports two wins in his last three starts for trainer Scott McNiven — and two wins since being paired with driver Henry — and now sports $31,975 in earnings.
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. The $30,000 Harvest finals are 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)