Driver Bob McClure guided favoured Move Your Mass and Bruno No No No to victory in the Ontario Sired Harvest Series finals on Thursday, Nov. 7 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, finding his way to the winner's circle with two very different trips.
The first victory was, seemingly, less stressful. A six-horse field went postward in the $36,900 Harvest final for two-year-old male trotters, with Move Your Mass the 3-5 choice from the pari-mutuel public. Settled into third early, McClure asked Move Your Mass to move his mass down the backside to land on top through a :57.3 half. From there, the rookie trotting colt sped through a 1:26.3 third station and then trotted home under his own volition to hit the wire more than five lengths the best in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4. Flanagan Sunshine (Phil Hudon) and Royal Life (Trevor Henry) rounded out the top trio.
A two-year-old gelded son of Muscle Mass-Stonebridge Glider, Move Your Mass is owned by Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont. and was developed by Bruce MacDonald. MacDonald told Trot Insider that he made the decision this past August to step away from training after 24 years with Mardon, with his final start coming in last week's second Harvest leg with Move Your Mass.
Jeff Williams, the longtime assistant trainer for the late Bob McIntosh, took over the conditioning on Move Your Mass with this assignment and notched his first stakes final win as a trainer.
"It's a great place, lovely people, Marv and Moira have been great to us. I owe them a lot, they gave us a great opportunity," said Williams of Mardon Stables' Marv Chantler and Dr. Moira Gunn. "Bruce has done a great job with this horse, I just tried not to mess him up for a week...and, lo and behold, we managed not to! It's a dream come true."
Move Your Mass now sports a 6-1-1 summary from 13 starts with $60,230 in earnings. He paid $3.30 to win.
Bruno No No No came from off the pace to prevail in the $37,200 Harvest Series final for two-year-old male pacers, getting up in the final strides for the 1:53.4 victory.
Winchester Phoenix (Tyler Borth), Hide The Wick (Brett MacDonald) and Merrow (Tyler Jones) all took turns on the lead before the :57.1 half. Shortly thereafter, an advancing Shining Moment (James MacDonald) blew right on by heading into that far turn. After the 1:24.4 third station, Shining Moment had gained separation on his rivals but Bruno No No No had yet to be asked. McClure had the favourite in the three path at the head of the lane as Shining Moment drifted across the racetrack. Gaining with every stride while angling to the inside, Bruno No No No just got up in time to nail Shining Moment by a head. Winchester Phoenix (Tyler Borth) completed the triactor ticket.
"I thought I had a shot," McClure told Randy Waples after the victory. "He is a big, fast horse. He should have been in with the top [Ontario Sires Stakes] Gold colts this year but, unfortunately, he had some issues and they did the right thing and gave him the time and I think he'll come back next year and pay them back for it."
Trained by Gabriella Sasso, Bruno No No No (All Bets Off-Winbak Alice) is owned by Jeff Courchesne of Cambridge, Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga and Tony Aarts of Putnam, Ont. The colt picked up his second win in five tries, more than doubling his previous bankroll to now sport $30,090 in earnings.
For the full results from Thursday's card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Move Your Mass from win on Oct. 31)