Mohawk Racetrack hosted five OSS Grassroots divisions during its Tuesday evening program, and trainer Dustin Jones had to be pleased with what his three-year-old male trotters managed to do.
Try Try Again, a bright star from Jones’ barn, took his $15,950 division in 1:56.2 with driver Chris Christoforou in tow. Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, the son of Kadabra-Sweetspellosuccess got away sixth and held that position while Yo Yo Mass and Parkhill Nonstop took turns on the lead through first-half fractions of :28 and :58.
Try Try Again started his rally in the backstretch, and by the time Parkhill Nonstop hit the three-quarter pole in 1:26.3 Christoforou and Try Try Again were sitting second on the outside. Try Try Again then used a :29-second final frame to post the win by 3-1/2 lengths over Parkhill Nonstop. Third prize went to Masster Blue.
“I thought he was probably my best horse in the barn last year and he had a knee issue so I had to shut him down for the year,” said Jones.
“Now he’s shown that he’s 'Gold,' for sure,” the horseman continued. “I’d like to race him in a non-winners of two the week before the (June 27) Gold, that’ll be his next start, and then the Gold, hopefully, if everything works out as planned. You have to go week-by-week, but that’s the plan for him.”
Dustin Jones Stables Inc, Ecuries Daniel Plouffe, Noblock Racing Stable and Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc own the colt who is 3-for-3 in his career. Try Try Again’s first stakes score bumped his career bankroll to $22,975.
The Dustin Jones-trained Northern Major found his way to victory lane one race later, but unlike his stablemate – he posted a big upset. Sent off at odds of 17-1, Northern Major and driver Trevor Henry made a big, three-wide move at the three-quarter pole and then used a :28.4 closing quarter to win by half a length over odds-on favourite Santini in 1:58.2. Taking home the show dough was Amanforallseasons.
“…We made a bridle change on him, we went from blinkers to open, and I think that helped him a lot,” said Jones of Northern Major’s first lifetime win. “Actually that’s the fastest last quarter he trotted this year, maybe he’s just starting to get into shape.
“Last week (June 1) he made a break and, I don’t really know, he just sort of jumped it off, or skipped it off,” added the trainer. “I’m glad that everything worked out (tonight), because he sort of got a pretty tough first quarter and then he was like four or five wide in the last turn, so it was a pretty good mile actually. We were pretty encouraged with that effort.”
Jones went on to say, “He’s a great big tall horse and I think he just needs to come into himself a bit. I think once he gets it all figured out he might improve.”
The trainer also said, “We might give both [of the] colts a start in non-winners of two before the (next) Gold and then make up our mind what we want. Well for sure, Try Try Again’s going (to the Gold), and then maybe Northern Major also.”
Synerco Ventures Inc of Toronto, Ont. owns the son of Kadabra-Dover Miss. The gelding, who was winless in his first 14 attempts, pushed his lifetime earnings to $34,015.
Warrawee Shipshape was a popular winner in his $15,950 division for owner/driver Eddie Green of Ohsweken, Ont. The gelding got away second before moving to the lead in the backstretch. He rolled the field through middle panels of :58.4 and 1:29.2 before sprinting home in :28.3 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over R First Class in 1:58. Rounding out the top three finishers was More Than Majestic.
Paul Reid trains the son of Muscle Mass-U Can Cruise. After going 2-for-9 as a rookie, Warrawee Shipshape has kicked off his sophomore year with a 2-1-0 record from just three trips to the track. The youngster lifted his cash stash to $55,645 with the win.
Team Clements captured the fourth division with P C Silent Drive in 1:58.3. The gelding was second and parked past the quarter in :28.4 before working his way to the front. Driver Curtis Clements sped through middle fractions of :58.3 and 1:29.3 before using a :29-second closing quarter to win by a neck over Dontcrampmystyle. Rounding out the Triactor ticket was Blood Moon.
Sent off as the 5-2 favourite, the son of Cornaro Dasolo-PC Silentseduction won for the fourth time this season from just six trips to the track. Bred, owned and trained by Peter Clements of Dobbinton, Ont., the gelding bumped his career earnings to $21,499 with the win.
Rose Run Speedster was treated to a ground-saving trip in the final division by teamster Louis Philippe Roy, and when room opened up for the colt in the lane he stormed home to win for the first time this season.
Lucys Man rocketed to the top and carved out fractions of :28.2, :59.2 and 1:29.3, but he couldn’t fend off Rose Run Speedster who shook loose in the lane and fired home in :28 to win by a nose over Lucys Man in 1:58.2. Taking home the show dough was Majestic Streak.
Trainer Rene Allard co-owns the son of Windsong Espoir-Padam Hall with the Rose Run Speedster Stable of Guelph, Ont. The colt, who went 3-for-9 as a rookie, lifted his lifetime earnings to $126,475 with the win.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.
For the official judges' report from Tuesday's card, click the following link: Judges' Report - Mohawk - June 6.
(With quotes from the OSS)