James MacDonald completed a sweep of the Ontario Sired Harvest Series finals on Saturday, Nov. 23 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, delivering with favoured Stony Burke and Brudon.
In the $35,400 Harvest Series final for three-year-old male trotters, Stony Burke ($5.30) made his way to the top down the backside after a :28.4 opener and then didn't relinquish his lead after that. Carving out middle panels of :58.1 and 1:27.3, Stony Burke opened up a lead by more than three at the head of the lane and that was enough to repel the late challenge of Market Banker (Chris Christoforou) for the 1:57 decision. Market Banker and Major Bank (Trevor Henry) completed the top trio.
"I felt strong and I tried to get a couple lengths in the last turn," noted MacDonald after the win. "And like you said, I got to re-move pretty easy, I got there unscathed and and he felt good in the last turn, so I was confident I had enough to get home. But you never know...Chris' horse was so good last week. So I was waiting to hear from him."
Stony Burke (Muscle Mass - Royaltys Pearl) surpassed six figures in earnings with the victory, his fourth lifetime, for trainer and co-owner Julie Walker of Carlisle and co-owners Nancy Holmes of Clinton, Ont., Yvon Parmentier of N-D-Ile Perrot, Que. and 1035840 Ontario Inc. of Arthur, Ont. The sophomore colt's bankroll now stands at $108,468.
Brudon ($3.00; pictured above) provided MacDonald with a different route to the winner's circle in the Harvest Series final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, but the voyage was just as successful for the series sweeper. Set up second over around the far turn and heading for home, the 1-2 choice steamrolled past his rivals in the stretch to pick off late leader Lotto Max (Doug McNair) for the 1:52.4 tally, winning by 1-1/2 lengths. Brightside Maseo (Jody Jamieson) was just back of the top tandem to complete the triactor ticket.
After an 0-for-16 start to his sophomore season, Brudon (McWicked - Summer Thriller) has now won his last three starts for trainer Carmen Auciello and owners Frank Lamacchia of St. George, Tony Miceli and Deanmar Sons Stable of Mississauga, Ont.
"A lot of it is just starting to get it," Auciello told Randy Waples of the gelding with $57,837 in earnings. "You get those horses that are really green, and you can tell they have ability, but they just haven't been able to show it to you. All of a sudden the last four starts, I'd say he's just starting to learn and get it. And, you know, he's really starting to pay off."
In addition to the two Harvest Series finals, the Saturday card at Mohawk also featured a robust and accomplished sextet of pacing mares in a $36,000 Preferred Pace. Originally slated as a septet but reduced to six with the sick scratch of last week's winner Sylvia Hanover, the public supported the Nick Gallucci-trained duo of Silver Label and Prohibition Legal. But it was Dabarndawgswatchin ($22.40) and Trevor Henry in the winner's circle after the dust settled.
After Prohibition Legal (Jamieson) and Tells On A Roll (Travis Cullen) fronted the field through fractions of :26.1 and :55.2, Henry angled Dabarndawgswatchin out of third ahead of favoured Silver Label (McNair) to challenge for the lead. After a 1:23.4 third station, Dabarndawgswatchin headed Tells On A Roll turning for home. Silver Label flipped off Henry's helmet in midstretch and appeared poised to pass, but Dabarndawgswatchin showed bark and bite to hold on for the 1:51.1 tally. A nose shy of the leader was Silver Label, with Prohibition Legal in the show spot.
With her 25th career win, six-year-old Dabarndawgswatchin (Hes Watching - Addison Bay) lifted her lifetime earnings to $735,460. David Menary trains for owner Julia Ferguson of Greely, Ont.
Alain Carrier's homebred pacing colt G A Speed Expert made his local debut a winning one to extend his current win streak to five. After a pair of wins at Hippodrome 3R and and another two at Rideau Carleton Raceway, the three-year-old son of Sportswriter - Surprise De Mars prevailed in a $18,000 conditioned event for driver Trevor Henry and trainer David Pilon.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)