Freshman trotters can often be unpredictable, and that was quite apparent during Monday’s 11-race card at Mohawk Racetrack.
The Campbellville, Ontario oval hosted a set of $105,000 OSS Gold Series divisions for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, and longshot players had a field day thanks to winners that were sent off at 48-1 and 6-1, respectively.
Stormont Esquire blew up the toteboard with his 48-1 shocker in the first division. Sylvain Filion rushed him to the lead in :28.3 before taking a backseat in the backstretch to race favourite Willyorwonthe. That foe led past the half in :58.4 before battling with Dewy Dont Cheat around the final turn. Dewy Dont Cheat gained a slim lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.2, but he weakened late. That left the door wide-open for Stormont Esquire, who used a :29-second closing panel to win by one-quarter of a length over Will Take Charge in 1:57.4. Third went to Tony Soprano.
Kevin Benn trains the homebred son of Muscle Mass-Queen Of Stormont for Stormont Meadows of Long Sault, Ontario.
Adored By Masses put a mild shock into the toteboard in the second division when he rallied for a narrow win at odds of 6-1 for driver Sylvain Filion. The colt got away fifth before latching onto cover in the middle stages of the mile. Unitaliano Bi led through first-half fractions of :28 and :58.2, but Dad Leads took over command when that one broke in the backstretch. Dad Leads hit the three-quarter pole in 1:27.2 before opening up a big lead in the lane. The youngster made a break just before the finish, and as a result he was picked off by the late-charging Adored By Masses. He prevailed by a neck over Dad Leads in 1:56.3. Third prize was earned by V For Victory.
The son of Muscle Mass-Armbro Adored is trained by Erv Miller for the partnership of Anthony Lombardi, Paymaq Racing and Mystical Marker Farms LLC.
A solid group of nine lined up for Monday’s $34,000 Preferred Trot, and American invader Master Of Law turned in an eye-catching rally to win in 1:52.2 for trainer/driver Jimmy Takter. The gelding had a gapped-off start, and as a result he got away sixth from the rail. Murmur Hanover led through fractions of :26.2, :56 and 1:24.2 before being overtaken in the lane by race favourite Flanagan Memory. Despite parking every step of the way, Flanagan Memory trotted clear of the field in deep stretch before weakening late. Master Of Law, who was eighth at the head of the lane, powered home in :26.3 to win by half a length over E L Titan. Windsun Revenge was a lapped-on third.
Lindy Racing Stable, Brittany Farms, Adam Victory And Son Stble and Christina Takter share ownership on the hulking five-year-old son of Deweycheatumnhowe-Possess The Magic. The victory improved his 2015 record to 3-3-2 from 14 and it pushed his lifetime win total to 12. He’s banked more than $400,000 to date.
Earlier on the card a group of seven rookies faced the gate in a $14,000 affair, and Control The Moment was a handy winner in 1:54.1 for driver Randy Waples. He got away second with the colt before blasting him to the lead in the backstretch. He cleared and controlled the tempo through middle fractions of :58.2 and 1:27.3. He uncorked a :26.3 closing panel to win by three-quarters of a length over Max Is Back. Spaniard recovered from an early miscue to finish third.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the son of Well Said-Lifesliltreasure prevailed in his pari-mutuel debut for trainer Brad Maxwell who co-owns the youngster with Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold and Ben Mudry. The pacer was a $47,000 purchase from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.