Trainers flooded the entry box with three-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Monday at Mohawk Racetrack, while Mother Nature just flat out tried to flood the Campbellville oval which was listed as ‘good’ and ‘sloppy’ due to steady showers throughout the day and into the night.
There were six OSS Grassroots divisions on tap during the 13-race card, and among the headliners was last year’s OSS Super Final champ, Creampuff Macdaddy, who cruised to a 1:59.1 victory in his $15,000 assignment.
With Randy Waples in tow, the son of Ken Warkentin-Celebrity Cream got away third before brushing to the front in the backstretch. Once he cleared to the top it was game over. The colt cruised to the 1:59.1 decision by 1-1/4 lengths over Photo Mass, with Mo Dhabi finishing third.
Brad Maxwell trains the career winner of $284,120 for the partnership of Howard Taylor, Ted Gewertz, Edwin Gold and Judith Taylor. It was the trotter’s fourth lifetime win from 11 starts.
Renewal Notice grabbed his first-ever stakes victory with a win in his $15,000 division for the tandem of driver Billy Davis, Jr. and trainer Anette Lorentzon. The son of Muscle Mass-Infinites Uprising parked past the half before taking the lead, and from there he cruised home to win by 7-3/4 lengths over Twin B Cruiser in a career-best clocking of 1:56.3. Third prize went to Sparky Gypsy.
It was the second win of the season for the colt who is owned by ACL Stuteri AB of Paris, KY. The lion’s share of the purse boosted the youngster’s cash stash to $17,210.
Two Doors Down was treated to a ground-saving trip by driver Chris Christoforou in his division, and the Gerard Demers trainee used a :28.4 closing quarter to win in going away fashion in a career-best clocking of 1:58.2. It was 1-1/4 lengths back to Wanna Be Like Sim, with Striker Ace rallying from out of the clouds – storm clouds, in fact – to finish third.
Robert Montgomery of Carp, ON owns the son of In Conchnito-Mink Deville, who improved this year’s record to 2-1-0 from just seven trips postward. The trotter has banked $36,263 to date.
Mr Vs Victory survived a challenging trip to win his division in 1:58 for driver Paul MacDonell, who had the colt parked almost to the half-mile pole before crossing down to the rail. He got covered shortly past the mid-way point by Beyond Sanity, but rallied past that foe in the lane en route to the 1:58 score by 1-1/4 lengths over P C Dream Ticket. Just Make Believe was third.
Sent off at odds of 16-1 for trainer Marcel Barrieau, Mr Vs Victory nabbed his second career victory for owner/breeder Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc of Hudson, QC. The colt, who was making his 2013 debut, saw his bank account swell to $31,500 with the win.
Kennel Buddy encountered traffic troubles for most of the mile in his division, but turned on the jets in the lane after being shown clear racetrack and the gelding motored to a 1:57.1 score for Team McNair. The homebred defeated Super Duke and Schoolhouse Rock en route to capturing his second win of the year.
Bred by Gwen McNair, trained by her son, Gregg, and driven to victory by her grandson, Doug, Kennel Buddy won for the fourth time in his career. The $7,500 payday bumped his lifetime earnings to $58,857.
Crosbys Clam Bake was hustled to the lead in his Grassroots division by driver Doug McNair, and the gelding drew clear to win impressively in 1:57.4 over Sam Hayes and Offson.
Per Henriksen trains the homebred son of Kadabra-Pacific Elegance for owner Ed Lohmeyer of Cream Ridge, NJ. It was the first win of the season and the second lifetime tally for the career winner of $22,330.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.