Defending Horse of the Year Beau Jangles made a triumphant return to the track in his $25,000 SBOA Stakes elimination for Ontario-sired three-year-old male pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, May 9, turning in a sharp sophomore debut to remain undefeated.
The son of Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill left from the rail in a field of seven and got away second behind Tilthecowscomehome (Jody Jamieson) through a :27.3 opening quarter. Driver Bob McClure gave the 2025 Metro Pace champion his cue to move once straightened into the backstretch and took his time clearing the leader. On the front at a :56.1 half, Beau Jangles ramped up the tempo halfway around the final turn to hit three-quarters in 1:24.2, and the Dr. Ian Moore trainee powered home in :26.3 to secure a four-length, 1:51 victory in effortless fashion. Tilthecowscomehome came home second, followed by Mega Moves (Tyler Borth). Wholetthedogsout (Mark MacDonald) and Count On Gord (James MacDonald) completed the top five.
“He’s definitely fresh,” said McClure post-race. “He was just a dream to drive out there tonight, just like he always has been. I turned for home and I didn’t even speak to him, he just took off on his own…halfway down the lane he was looking around at stuff, just playing, so I had to get his focus a little bit, but it’s scary how much he can do with little effort.
“I look forward to a great year for him, Doc, the owners and everybody. I just hope he can do what everybody hopes he can.”
Beau Jangles is now 13-for-13 and has earned $1,701,250 for owners Graham Grace Stables LLC of Clifton, Va., Kiwi Stables LLC of La Plata, Md. and Bolton Stables of Clermont, Fla. After earning Horse of the Year honours in Canada and the United States at two, the hype surrounding Beau Jangles heading into his three-year-old season has rivaled that of the great Somebeachsomewhere. His wins last year in the Grade 1 Metro Pace and Grade 1 Breeders Crown Final give him the opportunity to join Tall Dark Stranger as the only horses to win those events at age two and then return to win the Pepsi North America Cup at three.
“We gave him all the time off we could,” said Dr. Moore of Beau Jangles’ winter break. “We never started jogging him until about the 19th of January, so he had almost three months. He didn’t really grow any, he filled out some; he got bigger in the chest, but didn’t grow any taller, and he came back like a trooper.
“Last year there was no pressure, every week was a bonus. This year, the pressure has been going for a while.”
Beau Jangles paid $2.10 to win.
Borderline Mobby prevailed in 1:50.4 for driver James MacDonald and trainer Dave Menary in the second elimination for pacing colts and geldings.
The son of Cattlewash-Hot Gossip, second at the quarter in :27.2, looped to the lead around favoured Windor (Doug McNair) before the half in :55.4. He then led unopposed through three-quarters in 1:23.4 and kept Windor at bay all the way to the wire to win by three-quarters of a length. Redland Rocket Man (Louis-Philippe Roy), Illicit Behavior (Bob McClure) and Dax Seelster (Mark MacDonald) also qualified for next week’s final.
Borderline Mobby is now one-for-two on the season after winning once in 10 starts at two. His career-best victory brought him to $111,509 in earnings for owners Menary Racing Inc. of Cambridge, Ont., Larry Menary of Branchton, Ont., Ryan Morefield of Howell, Mich. and Pit Bull Stable of River Vale, N.J. A $2 win ticket on Borderline Mobby returned $8.
The draw for next Saturday’s final for three-year-old male pacers took place following the eliminations.
$131,475 SBOA Stakes Three-Year-Old Colt Pace
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Wholetthedogsout - Mark MacDonald - John Pentland
2. Redland Rocket Man - Louis-Philippe Roy - John Pentland
3. Dax Seelster - Mark MacDonald - Ron Burke
4. Borderline Mobby - James MacDonald - Dave Menary
5. Count On Gord - James MacDonald - Chris Matthews
6. Beau Jangles - Bob McClure - Dr. Ian Moore
7. Windor - Doug McNair - Mike Vanderkemp
8. Mega Moves - Tyler Borth - Tony Beaton
9. Tilthecowscomehome - Jody Jamieson - Carl Jamieson
10. Illicit Behavior - Bob McClure - Shawn Steacy
AE. Letr Sink Son - Travis Henry - Boyd Wilson
There were also two $25,000 SBOA Stakes eliminations for sophomore trotting colts and geldings. The opening division delivered a compelling top-level showdown, as Touchedbyanangel held off the heavily favoured Strobe Lite to win in 1:54.1.
Driven confidently by Doug McNair for trainer Kyle Fellows, Touchedbyanangel secured a perfect two-hole trip behind Wolverine Legend through fractions of :28, :57 and 1:25.4. Touchedbyanangel angled into contention turning for home and powered on to secure the victory over the late-closing Strobe Lite. Strobe Lite, the O’Brien Award-winning standout from last season, made a strong seasonal debut for driver James MacDonald and trainer Ben Baillargeon. The 1-5 favourite settled into a mid-pack trip before making a steady late rally. Despite closing ground through the stretch, he came up three-quarters of a length short off a :27.2 kicker. Rounding out the top three was Wolverine Legend, who set the tempo for driver Trevor Henry. Dream For Peace (Billy Davis Jr.) and Stonebridge Mac (Bob McClure) also made next week’s final.
With the win in Saturday’s seasonal debut, Touchedbyanangel now has three victories in 13 starts and $202,887 earned for owners Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood, Ont., Blair Corbeil of Leduc, Alta., Mike McAllister of Beaumont, Alta. and Peter Porter of Port Dover, Ont. The son of Archangel-Rubys Are Nice paid $8.40 to win.
The Fellows stable carried the momentum from the first elimination win to a sweep of the top two spots in the second split for trotting males, as Toss Of The Dice pulled off a 34-1 upset in a scramble of a finish with the top five separated by two lengths.
Driven by Mark MacDonald, Toss Of The Dice was seventh and last through opening panels of :27.3 and :56.4, then went three-wide at three-quarters in 1:26.4. The three-wide move was forced after longshot In The Black (Travis Cullen) began to fade after being parked throughout. Favourite First Class Mass (James MacDonald) was stuck behind the tiring rival, while Mike Me Up (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Toss Of The Dice got around. In the stretch, L P Bay (Travis Henry), who had been pressured by In The Black, surrendered the lead to Trouble With Names (Bob McClure). However, the new leader could not hold off the Fellows trainees, as Toss Of The Dice reached up to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.1. Mike Me Up was second, while Trouble With Names finished third. First Class Mass finished strong after the last-turn traffic to finish fourth, while L P Bay completed the top five.
Another a son of Archangel, Toss Of The Dice was winless in two starts this season before Saturday’s elimination. He now has four victories in 13 career starts and $59,770 earned for owners Yolanda Fellows, Leo Fleming of Campbellville, Ont., Bill Manes of Rockwood and William Cripps of Acton, Ont. Toss Of The Dice, out of Roll Sevens, paid $71.30 to win.
The draw for next Saturday’s final took place following the eliminations.
$130,475 SBOA Stakes Three-Year-Old Colt Trot
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Wolverine Legend - Trevor Henry - Matt Bax
2. Touchedbyanangel - Doug McNair - Kyle Fellows
3. Mike Me Up - Louis-Philippe Roy - Kyle Fellows
4. Toss Of The Dice - Mark MacDonald - Kyle Fellows
5. First Class Mass - James MacDonald - Dave Menary
6. Dream For Peace - Billy Davis Jr. - Shawn Steacy
7. Strobe Lite - James MacDonald - Ben Baillargeon
8. Stonebridge Mac - Bob McClure - Scott McEneny
9. Trouble With Names - Bob McClure - Paul Reid
10. L P Bay - Travis Henry - Mark Etsell
AE. Green Nineteen - Todd Ratchford - Matt Bax
A total of four SBOA Stakes Finals will take place next Saturday. Post time is 6:30 p.m.
(Woodbine)