A six-pack of Ontario Sired Autumn Series first leg divisions for three-year-old colts and geldings highlighted Thursday night’s card at Mohawk Racetrack.
Each division was contested for a purse of $18,000 with 24 sophomore trotters and 29 three-year-old pacers competing over six divisions.
Georgies Pockets was last at the quarter, but first at the wire to capture Thursday’s first division for trotters.
The Jack Moiseyev trainee was sent off as the heavy-favourite and didn’t disappoint. Georgies Pockets was moved to the outside in the second-quarter by Moiseyev and calmly grinded his way up to second and a little more than a length off the lead at the three-quarter pole.
In the stretch, Georgies Pockets pulled away from his rivals with ease for a 5 ¾ lengths victory in 1:56.1. JLS Bad Moon Risin finished second, while French Bastille was third.
A son of Muscle Mass, Georgies Pockets now has four wins in nine starts this season after winning six of nine as a rookie. The sophomore trotting colt has banked $44,000 this season to bring his career total to $138,650 for owner M T Pockets Stables.
Georgies Pockets paid $2.60 to win.
Moonstar Mission showed some grit in winning the second split in 1:56.3.
Trained and driven by Tom Durand, Moonstar Mission made a second-quarter move to the lead from fourth to take the field by the half in :58.4. The gelded son of Manofmanymissions led the field into the lane, but was challenged by Windsun Missile, who pulled to within a neck of the lead with an eighth of a mile to go.
Moonstar Mission turned aside the challenger in deep stretch to score the victory by 1 ¾ lengths. Windsun Missile had to settle for second, while Mostinterestingman was third.
Owned by June & Tom Durand and Allan Smith, Moonstar Mission was making his first start since July in Thursday’s Autumn Series opener. The sophomore trotter now has two wins in six outing this season after going winless in three starts and earning $1,440 as a two-year-old.
Moonstar Mission increased his career earnings to $20,940 with the victory. He paid $12.60 to win.
United Bi went to the front and got the job done in the final division, but not without a fight.
The Shannon Henry trainee was sent to the front by Trevor Henry and called all the shots. In the stretch, The Land Shark came out of the two-hole to take his crack at the leader and took a slight lead over United Bi halfway down the lane.
However, United Bi fought back and turned aside the public’s choice before reaching the wire just in time to hold off a charging Rose Run Rudi by a neck in 1:58.2. The Land Shark was third.
A gelded son of Manofmanymissions, United Bi now has two wins from 12 starts this season after winning twice in eight outings during his rookie campaign. The three-year-old trotter has earned $21,200 this season to bring his career earnings to $54,540 for owners Nick Petrusich and Trevor Henry Stables Inc.
United Bi paid $5.80 to win.
Over on the pacing, Senior K picked up his second consecutive victory with a 1:53 score in the opening division.
The son of Bettors Delight sat fourth throughout the early going before coming first up on the far turn for driver Doug McNair. Senior K overtook the lead at the top of the lane and then fought off a pesky Mayfield Duke to win by half a length. Sure Fired Bet was third.
Trained by Gregg McNair, Senior K now has back to back victories to bring his season’s record to two wins from seven starts. The sophomore pacing colt is owned by Keith Waples and now has $22,500 banked this season to bring his career total to $33,940.
Senior K paid $5.50 to win.
Think On It came up with a strong effort to win the second division in 1:54.
Driven by Paul MacDonell, Think On It was blasted towards the front to grab command in the first turn. After surrendering the lead, MacDonell was back out to circle around to the front at the half.
Think On It powered his way around the final turn and into the stretch, but had to give everything he had to hold off a late charging P L Jackson by a head. Tango Star was third.
A gelded son of Ponder, Think On It now has three wins from 10 starts this season after winning one of five last year. The Bob McIntosh trainee increased his seasonal earnings to $22,060 and his career earnings to $41,890 with his victory Thursday.
Think On It is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, Dave Boyle and James Walker. He paid $14.40 to win.
Mach Power needed to go 12 rounds to win the final Autumn Series division of the evening.
The Carmen Auciello trainee got away fourth with driver Jonathan Drury, who moved the sophomore pacing gelding to the outside in the second-quarter. Mach Power drove first up to confront the leader Bugatti and the three-year-old pacers threw down in a far turn battle.
Mach Power eventually won the battle and took the lead in the stretch, but his evening was far from done. Drury had to ask the Auciello trainee for everything to fend off an outside challenge from Archangel Three and an inside bid from Speedling.
Mach Power reached the wire first in 1:53.3 by half a length over Speedling, while Archangel Three was only beat three-quarters of a length in third.
A gelded son of Mach Three, Mach Power picked up his seventh victory of the season in his 25th start. Owned by David Snowden, Mach Power has banked $65,630 in his first season of competition.
The Auciello trainee paid $5.30 to win.
In order to be eligible to the Ontario Sired Autumn Series, the three-year-old colts and geldings had to be non-winners of $50,000 lifetime or $30,000 in 2016 as of September 30, 2016.
The sophomore colts and geldings will return for the second leg next Thursday at Woodbine Racetrack.
Just three cards remain on the calendar for the 2016 Mohawk meet. Post time Friday, Saturday and Monday is 7:30 p.m.
(WEG)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.