Reigning champion driver at Woodbine Mohawk Park and back-to-back O’Brien Driver of the Year winner James MacDonald picked up where he left off from the Campbellville oval's brief hiatus with a six-win evening Saturday (April 1) including a sweep of the New Holland Series.
The New Holland Series finals were pushed back a week after last Saturday’s card was cancelled due to extreme wind.
Track-record holder Locatelli inherited the lead on the final turn and held on to win the $72,000 New Holland Trotting Series final.
MacDonald fired Locatelli out from post eight to head towards the lead. Top contender HP Mama B pushed forward coming out of the first turn to grab the lead through a :56 opening half. Looking strong on the lead, HP Mama B suddenly went off stride racing towards three-quarters, leaving Locatelli to reach the third station in 1:25.1.
With Franks Angel a few lengths back and the others several more, Locatelli sealed the deal trotting into a stiff wind to win in 1:56.2. Franks Angel was second by a length and a quarter, while Sermon rallied for third.
“I know HP Mama B, when she goes for it, she goes for it all and [Locatelli] was struggling to keep with her,” said MacDonald. “When she rolled off, Locatelli is the kind of horse that’s tough to get by down the lane…he’s not the quickest horse, but he doesn’t like to give it up either. We didn’t have a whole lot left in the tank, but we got the job done.”
Trained by Harry Poulton, Locatelli is now two-for-five this season after turning in a strong 2022 campaign that saw him score seven wins and earn $145,300 in 27 starts. The five-year-old gelding matched the older trotting horse and gelding track record of 1:50.4 on Dec. 5.
“He’s a classy horse and I just can’t say enough good about him,” said MacDonald. “He tries and he gives you all he’s got and he did it again tonight.”
Locatelli now has $57,800 earned this season for owners TheStable.ca and Hutchison Harness LLC. The gelding’s career numbers are now up to 13 wins and more than $400,000 earned.
A $2 win ticket on Locatelli returned $15.20 to win.
MacDonald completed the series finale double by guiding Nautical Hanover to a 4-1/4-length score in the $70,500 New Holland Pacing Series final. The victory gave the Ben Baillargeon trainee a sweep of the series.
Camara Moment blasted out at the start to grab the early lead and showed the way for a large portion of the race. After leading by the half in :56.2, Camara Moment was overtaken on the final turn when Nautical Hanover attacked first up from fourth to lead by three-quarters in 1:24.4.
In the stretch, Nautical Hanover and MacDonald blew things wide open to secure the 1:53.2 victory. Baillargeon’s other starter Commanding Officer came away in a scramble for second, while Momas Son Byrne was third.
Nautical Hanover is now three-for-four on the season with $68,010 earned for owner Richard Berthiaume. The four-year-old was acquired by owner Berthiaume and trainer Baillargeon in November.
Baillargeon is optimistic for the future with Nautical Hanover.
“We’ll see when he gets the likes of Wheels On Fire and Warrawee Vital and those type of horses, but he’s a four-year-old and he will mature to be a very nice horse.”
A $2 win ticket on Nautical Hanover returned $5.10.
The New Holland Pacing and Trotting Series was open to non-winners of $150,000 (fillies and mares $175,000) in 2022.
Along with wins in the New Holland Series, MacDonald won the undercard feature – a $30,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace – with Parisian Blue Chip. The Shawn Steacy trainee sat fifth while Major League N set a tempo of :27.3, :55 and 1:24 with pressure mounting around the far turn. Major League N folded as Lock Bridge challenged out of the pocket while the backfield sprung alive in the straightaway. Parisian Blue Chip zipped by her rivals to take the lead late from odds-on favourite Need To Breathe and won by a neck in 1:53.3. Style For A Mile finished third, beaten another five lengths, with Intothemysticmoon fourth.
Parisian Blue Chip, an eight-year-old mare by Bettors Delight, races for owners Stephen Klunowski and David McDonald. She won her 29th race from 128 starts and has now earned $568,714.
She paid $17 to win.
MacDonald’s other three wins on the card came with Red Coin (1:55.2 winning mile; $3 to win), Littlebearcat (1:54.2; $6) and Woodmere Fenn (1:53.2; $8.10).
According to Woodbine Communications, King Triton A fell and unfortunately passed away during the 15th race. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of King Triton A.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(with files from Woodbine)