All eyes were on Stonebridge Strong in her quest to double up in the second leg of the Harvest Series for three-year-old trotting fillies Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but it was All Muscle N Sass scooting up the rail to post an upset win for Team Cullen.
All Muscle N Sass was treated to the pocket trip behind Equinox Annie who carved out fractions of :28.1, :58 and 1:28.2 before the backfield started closing in. Stonebridge Strong kicked off cover at the mid-way point of the final turn, but she couldn’t get to All Muscle N Sass who found a late opening at the rail for driver Travis Cullen and used a :27.3 closing quarter to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Stonebridge Strong in 1:56.2. Equinox Annie weakened late to finish third.
It was the third win of the season for the daughter of Muscle Mass-Hallmarker T, who was one of three winners sent out by trainer Jodie Cullen. Maggie Jones and Jody Simmons share ownership on the career winner of $48,730.
Great Somewhere was a driving away winner in the first division of the Pop Up Series for the duo of driver James MacDonald and trainer Jason McGinnis.
The three-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Lady Be Great was treated to a ground-saving trip into the two-hole for most of the mile while No Time At All supplied the field with fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:26.3. UF Bettors Hanover applied first-over pressure on the leader around the final turn, and it took its toll on both of them. Great Somewhere angled to the outside in the lane and powered home in :28.4 to win by 7-1/2 lengths over No Bettor Joy in 1:55.3. Big Bully was third.
Dr. Ruth Irving, Reg Petitpas and Gilles Landry share ownership on the colt who improved his 2021 record to 3-3-1 from 12 starts with the win. The four-time winner has banked mover $44,000 to date.
MacDonald came right back to take the next division, as well, with Air Strike in a time of 1:54.3.
The Jason McGinnis trainee got away fourth and held that position while Royal Renegade buzzed along on the front end through fractions of :27.3 and :56.4. Royal Renegade was still the leader at the three-quarter pole in 1:26, but he coughed up the lead to Machin A Trick in the lane. Air Strike angled out late and fired home in :27.4 to win by a neck over race favourite Pembrook Legacy N. Machin A Trick had to settle for third prize.
Sent off at odds of 5-1, the seven-year-old son of Always A Virgin-My Best Girl nabbed his fourth win of the season and the 24th of his career. Thestable Air Strike Grp of Guelph, ON owns the winner of $392,157.
Machdavid wasn’t in an enviable spot as the field turned for home in the third division, but it didn’t matter one iota to him.
Travis Cullen fed him racetrack off the final turn the gelding powered home in :26 to win from a very tough spot in the $17,000 affair.
Thrilling Times shot to the top and was allowed to dictate the terms of the tempo through panels of :27.2, :58 and 1:27.2, but despite sitting last at the top of the lane it was Machdavid who flew home to win by a neck over Thrilling Times in 1:54.4. Race favourite Priceless Beach was third.
The five-year-old son of Mach Three-Early Dismissal is a homebred owned in partnership by Jeff and Lori Thomson along with Murray Brethour. Jodie Cullen trains the seven-time winner who now owns a 2-1-1 record from 17 trips to the track this season. The win pushed his lifetime earnings over $80,000.
Intrigued Again kicked off cover late and cruised to a handy win in the final division at odds of 9-1 for driver Doug McNair.
Making his debut for trainer Carmen Auciello, the six-year-old son of Big Jim-Jade Princess was in no hurry in the early going when allowed to settle away sixth. P L Jackson (:26.3) and then race favourite Wildriverbumblebee (:55.1 and 1:23) took turns on the lead, but neither one of them could last on the lead. Instead it was Intrigued Again who stormed home in :27 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Wildriverbumblebee in a career-best clocking of 1:51. Rounding out the Trifecta ticket was Night Watchman.
Dan Sarafian of Unionville, ON owns the 18-time winner who won for the fifth time from 25 trips to the track this season. He’s now banked just shy of $120,000 to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.