For the second straight year, a Rideau Carleton Raceway track record has fallen during Ontario Sires Stakes competition.
In the second of two $99,800 Gold Series divisions at the Ottawa oval on Sunday, July 11, three-year-old trotting colt Logan Park sprinted down the stretch to reel in pacesetter Highland Mowgli and trip the teletimer at 1:52.4. Highland Mowgli settled for second, a half length behind the favourite, and Macho Martini was three lengths behind in third. The mile lowered the former three-year-old trotting colt and gelding record of 1:54.1 set by All Wrapped Up in 2019 and equaled the all-age track record set by P L Notsonice in three-year-old trotting filly Gold Series action last summer.
“He was fantastic tonight,” said driver Jody Jamieson, who guided Logan Park to the win from post 1. “He charged off the gate and charged to the wire.”
Jamieson drove the son of Archangel for trainer Rob Fellows of Rockwood and owner Outofthepark Stable of Rockwood, Reg Higgs of Strathroy and Arpad Szabo of Bradford, Ont. The win was Logan Park’s second straight in Gold Series action and Fellows hopes he can maintain his form through the remaining three legs.
“He wasn’t sure of his gait last year; he made a lot of very, very inopportune breaks. He left a lot of money on the table,” said Fellows. “This year he trained down flawless and then his first start he made a break. With our new rules in Ontario I could just come back and race him the next week with trotting hopples, I didn’t have to requalify him, and, so far, he’s been good ever since. Tonight was a real good mile.
“It’s still up here, the weather is humid,” the trainer added. “It’s the type (of weather) that track records would be set.”
The first Gold Series division went to Lexus Kody, who caught Publicity Seeker at the wire in a personal best 1:54.3. Emotions Riches was 2-3/4 lengths behind the neck-and-neck leaders. Favourite Fashion Frenzie made a series of breaks that saw him finish well back in fifth.
“Not a word of a lie, he’s the biggest horse I’ve ever had and he’s the most nervous horse I’ve ever had,” said trainer Shannon Henry of Lexus Kody. “He’s got a mind of his own, that’s this horse’s problem so we’re actually shocked. We knew he had the speed, but we’re just shocked with how he’s displaying it for us because he actually turns into a racehorse when he gets behind the gate.”
The Arthur, Ont. resident’s husband Trevor Henry piloted Lexus Kody to the win, his first in Ontario Sires Stakes action and his third since making his debut in May. Another son of Archangel, Lexus Kody did not race at 2. The Henry’s and their co-owners Norm Dunstan of Caledon Village, Ont., who also bred the gelding, and David Hudson of Dallas, Texas, opted to let the trotter to grow into his frame before starting his racing career.
Also on the program were a trio of $22,150 Grassroots divisions for the three-year-old trotting colts and Walkonthemoon, Muscle Jack and Sweet Soul David emerged victorious, all three setting personal bests in the process.
In the first division, fan favourites Walkonthemoon and trainer-driver Mario Baillargeon took command before the half and sailed home 2-1/2 lengths ahead of GQ Magic and Kilauea in 1:55.
“That’s his fourth start and he’s got three wins and a second. So far he’s done everything we’ve asked him,” said Baillargeon, who trains the son of Archangel for fractional ownership group TheStable Walkonthemoon of Guelph, Ont. “He’s just getting a little stronger, and his next race I think will be in Hanover in the Dream of Glory on the 24th of July. He’s staying healthy and staying happy, that’s the main thing.”
Second-choice Muscle Jack picked up his second-straight Grassroots win in the second division, reeling in favourite Dewy Deo in the stretch to halt the teletimer at 1:54.3. Moscow Moon was well back of the leaders in third.
“I was a bit concerned with the trailer post (9), but he was very well behaved,” said Guelph, Ont. resident Jody Jamieson, who picked up his second win of the night behind the Muscle Mass son. “He raced really good.”
Blake MacIntosh of St. George, Ont. trains Muscle Jack son for his co-owners Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern, Pa. and Mortgage Boys Stable of Fayetteville, N.Y.
Sweet Soul David also earned a repeat visit to the Grassroots winner’s circle in the last division, kicking home in impressive fashion after spending the entire mile parked in the outer lane. The Kadabra colt and driver Louis-Philippe Roy hit the wire 5-1/2 lengths ahead of Arlanda in 1:55. Defcon Seelster and trainer-driver Guy Gagnon of Gatineau, Que. were two more lengths back in third.
Guelph resident Roy drives Sweet Soul David for trainer Patrick Lang of Ancaster and his co-owners Simon Swindells of Little Britain, Garth Bechtel of Meaford and Paul Kleinpaste of Orangeville, Ont.
The three-year-old trotting colts will make their second Gold Series start at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Aug. 9 and the Grassroots colts will follow their peers to the Campbellville oval on Aug. 10. Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 22 with Gold, Grassroots and Prospect Series action for the three-year-old pacing fillies.
Trainers Guy Gagnon and Mandy Archer each won three times on the 15-race card, with the pair splitting victories in the evening’s co-featured events.
Gagnon’s pupil Seeyou Men strolled to a gate-to-wire score in the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot in 1:54.4. The nine-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass motored to the front from post 4 to a :28.2 opening quarter and faced minimal pressure through middle fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.2. He maintained command through the stretch to the beam by 1-1/4 lengths over pocket-sitter Vero Amore Bi with Flying Isa N taking third.
Owned by Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel, Seeyou Men won his third race from eight starts this season and his 32nd from 141 overall, earning $341,291. He paid $7.90 to win and was the first winner on the night from the Gagnon barn; his other training wins came with Its Eds Idea ($3.00) and The Light Speed ($3.40).
Archer won the $9,200 Preferred Pace to complete her hat trick on the night when Vegas Rocks rolled to a 1:50.4 win. Driven by Trevor Henry, the nine-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding grabbed control to a :26.3 first quarter and kept odds-on favourite Racemup parked through a :54.1 half. Racemup began to retreat up the backstretch while the tempo remained hot and Vegas Rocks gained separation to three-quarters in 1:22.2. Opening five lengths on the field off the turn, Vegas Rocks coasted to the beam to finish 3 1/4 lengths better than Shadow Margeaux, with Stonebridge Beach third.
Winning his second race from nine starts this season and his 37th from 164 overall, Vegas Rocks competes for owners Jamie Copley, Dean Larkin and Jody Sanderson. He’s now earned $415,587 and paid $6.00 to win. Archer’s other wins came in the evening’s opener with Outlaw Kismet ($13.90) and later with Mister Godro ($3.90).
(with files from Ontario Sires Stakes)
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.