Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted the Ontario Sired Spring Series finals for three-year-old pacers and trotters on Saturday, April 27.
The Ontario Sired Spring Series was open to Ontario-sired sophomore trotters and pacers that were non-winners of $30,000 in 2023.
Kindder Hotblood kicked off the card full of action in the $43,900 final for trotting fillies.
James MacDonald and the Matt Bax student got away fourth through panels in :27 and :57.2 before tipping to the outside on a first-over journey towards the leading Lexus Angel (Trevor Henry). The pair duelled it out in the final turn before Kinnder Hotblood turned on the afterburners and sizzled to a 2-3/4-length score in 1:54.3. Lexus Angel had to settle for second and Hallie Intheclouds (Jody Jamieson) completed the triactor.
"Very easy, nice trip, came strong at the end, you can't complain about that," said Bax.
Kinnder Hotblood (Kadabra-Her Name Is Lola) is owned by Bax Stable, David Hudson, Gaelic Stable 2 and The Cavalier Stable. She earned her second win of the year and third career victory from nine starts, yielding $48,063 in earnings.
Sylvain Filion doubled up in series finale victories and kicked off the triumphs with undefeated Robert McIntosh-trained Convoy Hall in race three, the final for sophomore trotting boys worth $43,600.
Convoy Hall got away second through the opening panel in :28.1 before taking command and setting two more panels in :57.2 and 1:27.3. Uncontested to the wire, Convoy Hall continued on to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2 over Captain Wania (Trevor Henry) and The Canam Banker (Tyler Borth).
"He doesn't have many faults. He scares you a bit in post parade when he paces, but once he gets going, he's just perfect to drive," said Filion.
Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Douglas John McIntosh, Randy Liepa and Beverley Snobelen co-own the Muscle Mass-Constance Hall gelding, who made his career record a perfect six-for-six with $65,800 banked. Convoy Hall paid $2.10 as the heavily backed favourite.
Lightning Lizzie was just that in her series final for the three-year-old fillies, worth $49,000.
Sylvain Filion put the perfect Murray Brethour student on the front and they never looked back, clicking out panels in :26.2, :54.1 and 1:23.1 before opening up to win by eight lengths in a career best 1:52. Right Match (Tyler Jones) was second with Catch My Breath (James MacDonald) taking the show spot.
"I was trying to let Trevor go before the quarter, but my mare hooked on so hard I had no choice to take him," said Filion. "She proved tonight she was much the best because they went at her pretty hard and she won by a few lengths."
Lightning Lizzie (Betterthancheddar-Lilli Maid) extended her win streak to three-for-three in her young career, banking $42,000 for owners Murray Brethour, Glenn Tarver, Bruce Northover and Jason Churchill. She paid $2.70 to win.
Warraweeforlaura completed the series action with a win in the highest price class, the $52,600 final for the sophomore pacing males. A full field of 10 went to the gate with Warraweeforlaura settling into post seven with Tyler Borth at the lines for Frank Baker.
Warraweeforlaura never found the rail through the opening panel in :26.4 as he continued in second from the outside. After that split, he found temporary place along the pylons in third at the half in :54.4 before popping back out en route to the three-quarters in 1:23. In the final turn, Warraweeforlaura achieved the lead and he never looked back as he went on to win by two lengths in 1:51.4. Chalk Hanover (James MacDonald) and Price Control (Louis-Philippe Roy) each rallied from the back of the pack for second and third, respectively.
"We got lucky and we got him in a good spot tonight," said Borth.
Frank Baker Jr., Tyler Borth and William Stevenson co-own the sophomore All Bets Off-Allegory gelding. Moving his career sum to $60,910 from 10 starts, the win was his fourth seasonal and career victory in a new lifetime mark. Warraweeforlaura returned $10.50 to win.
Whatchulookin At scored in the $25,000 third leg of the Canadian Sired Graduate Series for four-year-old pacers with James MacDonald at the command for David Menary.
MacDonald and Whatchulookin At sat the mile in fourth through panels in :27.1, :55.4 and 1:23.2. Making his move in the stretch, Whatchulookin At sprinted home in :25.3 to win by a head in 1:50.1 over No Control (Sylvain Filion) and Write Me A Rose (Doug McNair).
Pollack Racing LLC owns the four-year-old Hes Watching-Oriane Blue Chip gelding, who recorded his first win of the year and seventh career tally in 28 starts. He moved his lifetime bankroll to $318,482. As the upset victor at 7-1 odds in the field of six, Whatchulookin At returned $16.60 to win.
On the undercard, Emmetts Buddy took the $32,000 Preferred 2 Pace with Tyler Borth holding the lines for Michael Kwietniowski.
Borth and Emmetts Buddy got away fifth through the opening panel in :26.3 and half in :54.4 before moving first over. Emmetts Buddy was caught on the outside in fourth through the three-quarters in 1:23 before sprinting down the stretch to a 1-1/2-length victory in 1:50.3. Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) finished second with Dupree Hanover (Doug McNair) third.
Emmetts Buddy (In The Irons-Logicallyinclined) is owned by breeder Arthur Rey and earned his second win in three starts this year and his 21st career victory from 55 starts. He moved his career sum to $317,719. As the bettors' choice, the five-year-old gelding returned $3.50 to win.
Sweet Deisel extended his win streak to seven in a row on Saturday's card with James MacDonald piloting the eight-year-old Sweet Lou-Gentlemens Delight gelding to a 1:53 triumph by a neck for trainer Herbert Holland.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)