Heavily-favoured Stonebridge Strong had everything go her way in Monday’s opening leg of the Harvest Series for three-year-old trotting fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and as a result she was able to head home with a decisive score and a new lifetime mark.
Chris Christoforou was in no hurry with the 1-2 favourite who got away sixth while Equinox Annie and Doing It All battled tooth and nail through first-half fractions of :27.4 and :56.4. Christoforou tipped his charge off the rail as the field headed into the final turn, and he managed to latch onto cover supplied by Top Of The Bar.
Stonebridge Strong tipped off cover turning for home and she used a :28.2 closing quarter to win by two lengths over a game Equinox Annie in 1:55.4. Third prize went to All Muscle N Sass.
Paul Megens trains Stonebridge Strong for Saltwater Stable of Milton, Ont. The daughter of Muscle Mass-OK To Play improved her 2021 record to 2-2-3 from 14 attempts with the win while pushing her lifetime earnings to $57,549.
Priceless Beach took the first of four $17,000 divisions of the Pop Up Series for pacers in a time of 1:53 for driver James MacDonald.
The five-year-old son of Sunshine Beach-JK Priceless Pearl rallied to win by 5-1/4 lengths over All Cheddar. The show dough went to No Better Joy.
The 3-5 favourite, who hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Shawn Steacy, is now a two-time winner this year and a seven-time winner to date for Sweetgrass Equestrian Inc of Milton, Ont. The pacer has banked over $125,000 to date.
Cortez The Killer was a front-stepping winner in the second division for driver Phil Hudon and trainer Ken Switzer.
Hudon hustled the six-year-old son of Mach Three-Hot Butter to the lead and he fended off late pressure to win by a neck over Machdavid in 1:52.2. Capitano Italiano was third.
Dark Stables of Georgetown, Ont. own the 12-time winner who won for the second time this season from 23 attempts. The $8,500 payday boosted his overall bankroll to $122,372.
Wildriverbumblebee was a down the road winner in the third division for the tandem of driver Louis-Philippe Roy and trainer Julie Walker.
The seven-year-old son of Sportswriter-Alcor Semalu laid down fractions of :27.2, :55.2 and 1:23.1 before using a :28-second final frame to win in a career-best clocking of 1:51.1 over P L Jackson and Pembrook Legacy N.
Bred and owned by Dr. John Bradbury of Cookshire-Eaton, Que., the 16-time winner improved this year’s record to 3-0-1 from 11 starts with the victory. His bankroll now stands at $173,985.
Royal Renegade was a popular winner in the final division for Team Cullen in a time of 1:53.2.
The nine-year-old son of JK Royal Flush-Palma Ceia was treated to a second-over trip by driver Travis Cullen, and the veteran didn’t let the sweet trip go to waste. The gelding stormed home in :28.4 to win by a length over No Time At All. Quick Tour was third.
Jodie Cullen trains the veteran for owner Paul Sanders of Surrey, B.C. The victory was his third of the season and the 30th of his career. The lion’s share of the loot lifted his lifetime earnings over $350,000.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.