The spectacular run of the first crop of Sportswriter continued on Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack as his daughters won all three $70,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Southwind Mischief kicked things off in race two, rallying off a third-over trip to prevail by half a length in 1:54, which was the fastest time any of the OSS Gold Series winners recorded. Code One Hanover (Paul MacDonell) also showed a nice brush in the lane to collect second while Lady Hill (Tim Tetrick), who brushed to the lead in the backstretch, held on to finish third.
Casie Coleman, who also trained Sportswriter during his career, trains Southwind Mischief for owners West Wins Stables of Cambridge and Adriano Sorella of Milton, Ont. and Southwind Farms LLC of Pennington, New Jersey. Southwind Mischief was making her career debut after finishing first and third in a pair of qualifiers at Mohawk.
Southwind Mischief, who was also bred by Southwind Farm, sold for $62,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. She’s the fourth foal out of the Western Hanover mare Mondiane Hanover and is a half-sister to the likes of Southwind Milo ($181,017).
In the second OSS Gold Series dash, it appeared Coleman might be heading for a double as her Business As Usual (Christoforou) cleared to the lead in the lane after a first-over trip. However, Sports Chic (Jody Jamieson), who yielded the lead for a two-hole trip past the quarter, found her way to the outside in deep stretch and got up to prevail by a quarter of a length in 1:54.2. Business As Usual had to settle for second with Franney Love Dat (Tetrick) back in third.
Trainer Blake MacIntosh of Cambridge, Ont. also co-owns Sports Chic with partner Hutt Racing Stable of Paoli, Pennsylvania. Sports Chic won for the first time in a pair of tries and she has now earned $38,000.
Sports Chic, a Winbak Farm-bred filly, is the 15th foal out of the On The Road Again mare Vesta Blue Chip, which means Sports Chic is a half-sister to the great Rainbow Blue ($1,600,012), the 2004 Canadian Horse of the Year.
The final OSS test of the night saw Pop Writer (Doug McNair) scoot from third to first before the :57-second half-mile marker went on the board. From there, she cruised through three-quarters in 1:25.3 and then used a :29-second final kicker to seal the deal by half a length in 1:54.3. 53-1 shot Shesastarreporter (Billy Davis Jr.) rallied up the rail to snag second and early leader Twin B Honour (Mike Saftic) was third.
Tony Alagna trains the winner for owners Alagna Racing LLC of Steger, Illinois, and John Carver of Bettendorf, Iowa. Pop Writer broke her maiden at first asking after she was fifth and first in two qualifying events.
Diamond Creek Farm LLC bred Pop Writer, who is out of the Cambest mare Pop Or Tonic.
Click on the following links for recaps and replays of tonight's Maple Leaf Trot eliminations and Canadian Breeders Championship eliminations for three-year-old trotters.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(OSS)