The Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots headlined the card action at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday, June 18 with sophomore pacing colts and geldings completing their second leg of the series.
Each leg was worth a $20,000 purse. The sophomore pacing males return to action on July 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the $20,000 third leg.
Trainer Robert McIntosh swept a pair of the OSS Grassroots splits with Always A Thrill ($5.40) stopping the clock in the swiftest division time of 1:50.3.
James MacDonald and Always A Thrill eased into fourth off the car and into the turn. As the track straightened out and the opening quarter clocked :27, MacDonald sent the McIntosh student to the top, achieving the lead from the outside at the half in :54.4. Once at the top, Always A Thrill opened up to a 5-3/4 length lead by the three-quarters in 1:21.3. His foes charged behind him and closed the gap, but Always A Thrill had enough gas in the tank to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:50.3. Chesterman (Trevor Henry) took second with T H Mcmurry (Louis-Philippe Roy) third.
Always A Thrill is a sophomore gelded son of Bettors Delight and the Ponder mare Somethinincredible owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Tyrone Valley Farm, and Mardon Stables. He moved his career bankroll past the six figure mark at $101,208 as he achieved his third career tally in 14 starts. In six starts this year, Always A Thrill has returned victorious in two.
McIntosh's second student, Do Better ($2.60) used a gate-to-wire trip to win his division by four lengths in 1:52.1. Sylvain Filion provided the winning drive of the Bettors Delight-West Third Street gelding for owners Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., and Mardon Stables.
Lakers Bank ($8.30) took a split by a half length in 1:52.1 with Travis Cullen in the bike for trainer Tim Myers. The sophomore All Bets Off-Victorias Vett gelding is owned by Val Spar Stables.
Century Komodo ($8.50) won his split with Doug McNair in the bike for Anthony Beaton, a win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51. Domenic Chiaravalle, Gary Volpe and Cantucky Farm Inc. co-own the Bettors Delight-Michelons Filly gelding.
Three races dedicated to the Pop-Up Series, a pair of finals and a consolation, went to the gate as part of the Tuesday undercard. The Pop-Up Claiming Series was offered for $8,000 claiming pacers, both males and females.
Italia Seelster ($7.70), driven by Louis-Philippe Roy for Brett Lester, scored by a head in 1:52.4 to take the $15,000 Pop-Up Series finale for the lady pacers.
Delightful Magic ($43.60) won the $15,000 Pop-Series final for pacers by a half length in 1:52.1 with Bob McClure in the bike for Terry Gallant.
Papiamento ($11.40) won the $10,000 Pop-Up Series consolation pace from gate-to-wire by a length in 1:55 with Doug McNair holding the lines for Kayla Hendry.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)