The entry box for Monday’s card of harness racing at Mohawk Racetrack was flooded with trotting fillies, as the square-gaited lasses did battle in six $18,000 OSS Grassroots divisions.
Bistrobistro Taj powered to the lead in the backstretch in the first division, and once she cleared it was game over for the others. Chris Christoforou grabbed the filly some good position off the starting gate, and he hit the accelerator again the backstretch. The filly cleared easily and zipped through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:26.1 before using a :29.2 closing quarter to win by 4-1/4 lengths over Judy The Beauty in 1:55.3. Cincinnati Miss took home the show dough.
Dustin Jones trains the daughter of Pilgrims Taj-Freda Hall for 9215 6447 Quebec Inc of Lasalle, Quebec. The victory was the first of the season – and the third to date – for the career winner of $69,650. The youngster, who was overlooked by many handicappers, kicked back a healthy win payoff of $46.40.
The second division went to Renegade Magic and driver Mike Saftic in 1:55.4. The homebred daughter of Kadabra-Renegade Ruby was parked past the quarter pole in :27.2 before muscling to the top. She cruised through middle fractions of :57 and 1:26.3 before ripping home in :29.1 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Hape. Taking home third prize was Ladyone.
Ted MacDonnell trains the filly for owners Jeff and Lori Thomson of Chesley, Ontario. Unraced as a rookie, the lightly-raced lass boasts a 2-for-4 record and a bankroll totaling $16,000.
Coloratura used a strong stretch kick to capture her Grassroots assignment in 1:57.4. Rick Zeron got away sixth with the betting favourite, who watched Magic Dancing and P L Indyanaca take turns on the lead through panels of :28, :58.2 and 1:27.3. Zeron angled his charge to the far outside coming off the final turn and the filly stormed home in :28.2 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over P L Indyanaca. I Feel Good came on late to take home third prize.
It was the second win of the season for the Per Henriksen pupil, who bumped her lifetime earnings to $20,715 with the win. Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc of Lakefield Gore, Quebec paid $4.80.
Oh My Magic gave driver Chris Christoforou and trainer Per Henriksen their second taste of the winner’s circle on the OSS-filled program. Christoforou brushed his charge to the lead after Railee Priti and Lady Caterina took turns on the lead through first-half fractions of :27.3 and :58.2. Oh My Magic blasted to the top past the half and sped the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:28 before tacking on a :29.1 closing quarter to seal the deal in 1:57.1. It was three-quarters of a length back to runner-up Railee Priti, with Gioana taking home the show dough.
The daughter of Kadabra-Diminutive is owned by Steve Organ of Aurora and ASA Farm of Norwood, Ontario. After going winless in seven tries last year, the filly has responded with a 4-for-9 record this year. Her lifetime earnings climbed to $34,560 with the victory.
Lady Ping was a very popular winner – pari-mutuelly speaking – in the fifth division. The daughter of Muscle Mass-Ping Putter, who was sent off at odds of 1-5, got away third and watched Whosgoingtocatchus and Stay In Touch enjoy stints on the lead through first-half fractions of :28.1 and :57.1 Trainer/driver Dagfin Henriksen had Lady Ping on the move first-over on the way to the three-quarter pole, which was reached in 1:27. Tempo-setter Stay In Touch eventually gave way to Lady Ping, who used a :30-second kicker to win by 5-1/4 lengths over Stay In Touch in 1:57.1. Massima was third.
Henriksen co-owns the homebred with her breeder, Dr. Brett Anderson of Port Hope, Ontario. Together, the partners have watched the filly assemble a 2-6-1 record in 13 trips to the track this season. The filly has racked up a cash stash of $43,590 to date.
The final division went to Muscle Kit, who extended her winning streak to two-in-a-row for owner/trainer Erv Miller. Sylvain Filion launched the Muscle Mass-Lookit filly to the lead from Post 9 and she successfully whacked out fractions of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:26 before coasting home in a :30-second clip to stop the teletimer in 1:56. She was 3-1/4 lengths better than runner-up Striking Ivy, with GS Grasshopper rounding out the top three finishers.
It was a lifetime best performance for the four-time winner, who improved her sophomore record to 3-1-0 from starts with the victory. The lion’s share of the purse lifted her lifetime loot to $27,350.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.