Taurasi stormed back onto the top-level pacing scene at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, Nov. 22, out-sprinting Remember The Alamo in the $40,000 Open to upset at 11-1 in his first start in seven weeks.
The gelding, an 11-time Preferred winner last season, launched quickly from post one to take a pocket seat behind Remember The Alamo (Tyler Borth), who was seeking his third straight Open victory. Doug McNair kept Taurasi on the Borth helmet as Remember The Alamo laid down :27.4, :56.4, and 1:24.4 fractions on an uncontested lead. Taurasi shifted out once in the stretch and worked away at the leader, charging home in :25.4 to edge clear by a half-length late in a 1:50.4 victory. Captain Fear Not (Billy Davis Jr.) finished third.
Taurasi won for the fifth time this season — again at the premier overnight level — in 22 starts for trainer Gregg McNair and owners Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. and Alagna Racing LLC of Jackson, N.J. The six-year-old Racing Hill-Voluminious gelding has earned $847,124 and won 28 of 79 career starts. He returned $24.30 to his backers.
That upset win was preceded by Devils Wish stunning at 33-1 in the $50,200 Harvest Series Final for sophomore pacing males. Devils Wish, who finished second and third in the preliminary legs, went to the lead early before sitting the pocket to The Tulsa King (Todd Ratchford) through :26.3, :55, and 1:23.3 panels. The gelding then forged past that opponent on the inside to post a half-length win for driver Travis Henry and trainer Tony Beaton in a career-best 1:52. The Tulsa King finished a game second over Figment (Scott Young), who sustained a flat tire and was denied a sixth straight win.
The win for Devils Wish was his first at Mohawk and fifth overall in 32 lifetime starts. The sophomore son of Mcwicked-Rocknroll Wishes is four-for-22 this season for owners Kevin McKinlay of Holland Landing, Ont., Martin Van Beek of Newmarket, Ont., and Brandon Guerra of Brantford, Ont. He has earned $89,360 lifetime. The win return was $68.70.
Jayport Cash also earned a new mark as he motored home after mid-race trouble to capture the $47,200 Harvest Series Final for three-year-old male trotters. He sat fifth behind a first-half frenzy up front in which Sapphire Steve (Phil Hudon) got the front in a :27.3 opener but was twice overtaken as Massedonia (James MacDonald) and Goal Digger (Borth) went three-high towards the half in :56.2, with the latter swooping to the lead.
Jayport Cash started up from fifth nearing the final turn but was hindered by his cover breaking stride, leaving him to play catch-up to three-quarters in 1:25.1. He reached the first-up Sapphire Steve at the bottom of the last turn, then drifted wide and turned on the jets, rallying past opponents to a two-length victory in 1:55. The Bear A Cuda (Trevor Henry), who started last, followed the winner down the lane and nipped Goal Digger late for second.
Jayport Cash has won two straight races, improving his career record to three-for-24 with $64,830 in earnings. All three wins have come this year in 15 starts for trainer Josh McKibbin. The Trixton-Jayportcashforlife gelding is owned by M&S Racing Stable Inc. of Rockwood and Paul Badder of Croton, Ont. He paid $8 to win.
The Harvest Series were for Ontario-sired horses that were non-winners of $30,000 this year as of Sept. 30.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)