Write Me A Rose won his third straight race and second straight Canadian Graduate Series split on Saturday, April 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The Canadian Sired Graduate Series for four-year-olds continued on Saturday with the evening's second leg comprised of one $25,000 division for pacers.
Doug McNair took the Kyle Fellows student to the outside post in the field of six. As the car drew away and the field lined up single file, No Control (Sylvain Filion) had control of the timer to the :27.3 quarter. Nightime Dancer (Jody Jamieson) followed in second and Write Me A Rose got away third. After the opening panel, Write Me A Rose swept to the top. The Fellows trainee maintained a 1-1/2-length lead through the half in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.4. Without letting up, Write Me A Rose posted a :26.3 final quarter to win by two lengths in 1:51.2. No Control finished second and Whatchulookin At (James MacDonald) sprinted to take the show spot.
Write Me A Rose is owned by breeder Windermere Stable LLC. The four-year-old horse won his ninth race from 31 career starts. The son of Sportswriter and the Bettors Delight mare Caribbean Rose N moved his career sum to $412,728. He returned $2.50 to win.
The Canadian Graduate Series consists of three preliminary legs and $75,000 added finals, which will take place on Saturday, May 4.
Tells On A Roll won the $36,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace from gate-to-wire with Travis Cullen holding the lines for Jodie Cullen.
The four-year-old Tellitlikeitis-Have Rock Willroll mare controlled the tempo through panels in :27.4, :56.1 and 1:24.1 before going on to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:51.4. So Much More (James MacDonald) finished second and Style For A Mile (Doug McNair) took the show spot.
Paul Sanders, A1stable and Ronald Cullen co-own Tells On A Roll, a winner of six races from seven starts this year and 15 races from 33 career starts. She moved her seasonal bankroll to $117,000 and career bankroll to $465,006. She returned $2.50 to win.
Post seven was no problem for Taurasi as he won his ninth straight victory in the $36,000 Preferred Handicap Pace on Saturday evening.
Taurasi was caught on the outside in fourth through the :27.1 quarter before assuming command of the field. McNair and the Richard Moreau-trained gelding set panels in :56.2 and 1:24.1, speeding home in :26.4 to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51. Emmetts Buddy (Tyler Borth) finished second with Poseidon Seelster (Bob McClure) third.
Brad Grant and Alagna Racing LLC co-own Taurasi, a perfect winner of seven starts this season. A career winner of $527,321, the five-year-old gelded son of Racing Hill-Voluminous has made 19 trips to the winner's circle in 38 starts. He paid $2.60 to win.
James MacDonald piloted Seriously Hanover ($10.20) to a win by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.4, McNair steered Taurasi, and MacDonald drove Settn A Precedent ($3.20) to a three-quarter length victory in 1:52.2 to give Richard Moreau a training hat trick on the card.
Driver Travis Cullen teamed up with trainer Jodie Cullen for a training triple with Tells On A Roll, Glenboro ($17.40) by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.3, and Lets Tie One On ($5.40) in 1:50.4.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)
Taurasi
Taurasi, with 7 wins, is the only horse in North America that has won 6 or more races in 2024 and is undefeated. All seven of his wins were in Preferred races, against the best horses on the grounds.