After struggling to find form as a sophomore, trotter Mr Genesis has turned into a force to be reckoned with since entering the barn of trainer Colin Johnson
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In Tuesday night's $15,000 Preferred Trot at Georgian Downs, driver Paul MacKenzie settled Mr Genesis second along the rail while trotters tussled three-high into the opening turn. Northern Spark (Scott Zeron) ended up parked from that early speed duel parked through a :27 first fraction but forged on for the front end and settled there in front of the grandstand.
With a slight breather, Zeron and Northern Spark hit the half in :56.4 before feeling pressure from Sombrero Hall (Brandon Campbell), who was parked from the outset. Chewey (Robert Shepherd) was sitting pretty on the leader's helmet in the pocket while Mr Genesis was shuffled back to fourth. As the field passed three-quarters in 1:26, Sombrero Hall's strides started to shorten and he began to fade. That allowed room for pocket-sitting Chewey to angle to the outside on the final turn. MacKenzie also had room to angle Mr Genesis out from behind Chewey and tipped into the three path for the stretch drive. As the wire approached, Mr Genesis powered past Chewey to score the quarter-length win in a brisk 1:55 with Northern Spark just a length back in third.
Owned by Quebec's Claude Baril, Mr Genesis (Mr Lavec - Kiss Me You Fool) now has 10 wins on the year in 23 tries with more than $63,000 in the bank. In 14 seasonal starts for trainer Colin Johnson, Mr Genesis has won at a 50 percent clip.
For full results from Tuesday's card of harness racing at Georgian Downs, please click the following link: Tuesday Results - Georgian Downs.