Ontario-sired three-year-old colts and geldings kicked off their Autumn Series with four divisions Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
A total of 20 pacers and 20 trotters made up four $18,000 round one divisions.
Mach On The Beach kicked off the night with a 1:52.2 victory in the first pacing division.
Driven by Sylvain Filion, Mach On The Beach flashed early speed aiming for the front, while Twin B Sportsman was pacing hard early looking for the lead. Mach On The Beach got to the pylons first and Filion opted to stretch Twin B Sportsman out by the opening quarter in :26.2. Filion eventually released the challenger at the top of the backstretch. After a half of :55.1, Mach On The Beach came to the outside and surged by Twin B Sportsman to take the field by the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1. In the stretch, Mach On The Beach left his rivals in his dust and paced away to an easy-looking, four-length victory. The Rock finished up a strong final quarter to come from eighth to finish second. Sports Lightning finished third, while Windsong Lightning was fourth.
A son of Mach Three, Mach On The Beach is trained by Richard Moreau for owner Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc. The sophomore gelding now has seven wins from 24 starts in his first season of racing. Mach On The Beach pushed his earnings to over $60,000 with the victory Saturday, while also lowering his career mark by more than two seconds. The Moreau trainee paid $3.90 to win.
In the second division for pacers, Cajon Lightning came first up to win in 1:52.4.
Driven by Mike Saftic, Cajon Lightning got away fifth in the early stages, while Doctor Royal and Major Dan took turns on the lead through panels of :26.1 and :56.1. Saftic sent Cajon Lightning first up around the final turn and the even-money favourite was second and less than two lengths from the front at the three-quarter pole. In the stretch, Cajon Lightning powered by Doctor Royal and paced home strong in :27.2 for a length and a half victory. Jack Reacher finished second, while Naturescape finished third just ahead of Doctor Royal.
Also a son of Mach Three, Cajon Lightning is trained by Scott Bell for owner John Taylor. Saturday’s victory was the third from 16 starts this season for the gelding.
Cajon Lightning has now earned over $48,000 in his first season of racing. The clocking of 1:52.4 matched his career mark taken October 12 at Woodbine. Cajon Lightning paid $4.10 to win.
On the trotting side, Stormont Wizard took the first division in 1:56.1 at odds of 3-5.
Driven by James MacDonald, Stormont Wizard trotted out strongly to grab command at the opening quarter in :28. Down the backstretch, Win The Day came first up from fifth to challenge the leader at the half. MacDonald kept his trotter moving well and turned aside the first-over challenger to lead the field by the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1. In the stretch, Stormont Wizard sealed the deal with a :30 final quarter to score a two and a quarter length victory. P L Icabod finished second, while Lmc Mass Oak was third. Win The Day rounded out the Superfecta in fourth.
A son of Kadabra, Stormont Wizard is trained by Kevin Benn for Stormont Meadows. The sophomore gelding now has two wins in 12 starts this season. Last year, Stormont Wizard scored a single victory in seven starts, while hitting the board five-times. The Benn trainee has banked over $48,000 this season and $74,000 lifetime. Stormont Wizard paid $3.40 to win.
Love Hunter turned a two-hole trip into a 1:57 victory in the second trotting division.
The Nick Gallucci trainee left quickly for driver Trevor Henry to challenge for the lead, however Gronk, the even-money favourite, pushed forward for the lead and forced Henry into the pocket. After setting fractions of :26.4, :57.3 and 1:27.1, Gronk carried the lead into the lane with Love Hunter on his back. In the stretch, Love Hunter came to the outside and waged war with Gronk, eventually edging by in deep stretch to win by half a length. Freddie closed with good speed for third, while Thoughtful Leader was fourth.
A son of Holiday Road, Love Hunter entered Saturday’s contest with one win in 10 starts this season. The Autumn Series division victory pushes the gelding’s earnings in 2015 to over $34,000. Love Hunter paid $12.20 to win.
In order to be eligible to the Autumn Series, the Ontario-sired three-year-olds had to be non-winners of $50,000 lifetime or $30,000 in 2015 as of September 30, 2015.
The second round of the Autumn Series for the colts and geldings will take place next Saturday (November 28).
In addition to their Autumn Series score, Filion and Moreau also teamed up to win the $34,000 Preferred Pace with Evenin Of Pleasure.
The 3-2 favourite left from post six and wired his six rivals, leading through panels of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:23.3 en route to the 1:51.4, two and a half length triumph. The win was Evenin Of Pleasure's fourth in his last five starts and he returned $5.10 at the betting windows. Ellis Park and Thunder Steeler came on for second and third-place honours.
Gestion J Y Blais Inc. campaigns Evenin Of Pleasure, who is a five-year-old son of Dragon Again approaching the half-million dollar career earnings mark. Evenin Of Pleasure has won seven times in 27 starts this year while banking $221,170.
Marlee B edged out last week's winner, Ms Mac N Cheese, to take the $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred.
Even-money favourite Precocious Beauty sprinted off the gate through a :25.4 opener and continued to lead her five foes through an uneventful :56 half. Tessa Seelster was her first challenger, advancing from third as they approached the third quarter mark in 1:24.4. Meanwhile, Marlee B and driver Chris Christoforou followed along in fourth-place before launching off cover in the stretch. She powered home on the far outside in a :26.4 final frame and defeated the pylon-skimming Ms Mac N Cheese on the line in 1:52.1. Bet Ya closed for third.
Rob Fellows trains the five-year-old Mach Three mare, who has won six of her 29 seasonal starts and $122,740 in purses for Synerco Ventures Inc. She paid $11.20 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)