Forwardly placed early on by driver Doug McNair, Ways N Means was able to skim the pylons late to snag the victory in the $150,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Mid-Season Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Saturday, July 13 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
"There's always a little worry [there won't be room up the inside], anything can happen, but we were following the right horse," said McNair. "We had a great spot, we had the six-hole and then there was a scratch so we had the five-hole, so I figured we'd just shoot him on out of there and try to get lucky."
With the scratch of Griff, Ways N Means was able to move in one slot to post five and he left out with 2-1 favourite Willowtime (Mario Baillargeon) alongside. Willowtime crossed in front of Ways N Means as he sprinted a :26.3 first quarter with the divisional point leader, Myretirementdream (Scott Young), in pursuit from the outer wing of the gate and landing in third.
Willowtime trotted on to the half in :55.4 before Myretirementdream launched a first-over challenge as they rounded the turn to three-quarters in 1:24.2 and started closing in on the leader through the stretch. However, the big threat was lurking at the pylons and McNair was able to shoot Ways N Means through and pull ahead for the 1:53 victory to equal his lifetime mark while Myretirementdream overtook Willowtime and chased 1-3/4 lengths behind in second. Finite (Sylvain Filion) closed late from mid-pack to finish third over Willowtime.
"He's been knocking on the door," said McNair of the Mike Keeling trainee, who first established his lifetime mark just prior to a close runner-up finish to Griff in the May 25 first leg of the Gold Series. "Mike's been working hard on him and getting him into tip-top shape and tonight he was a different horse. Whatever he changed on him this week, he did a good job."
Going from steel to aluminum shoes for the Mid-Season Final, Ways N Means, who won three of his nine starts last year as a two-year-old facing Grassroots competition, boosted his bankroll to $177,585 for owners Dreamville Stable of Cambridge, Ont., and Harbor Racing Stable of Uxbridge, Ont.
"Last year, he wasn't competitive in the Golds, but he was a very competitive Grassrooter," said Keeling. "Something went on this winter where he just came back a little stronger, a little more mature, and the first time Doug raced him, he said, 'He's a Gold horse this year.' So we were just kind of bidding our time. He's had some stomach issues and I think we're on the right side of it now [with the right diet] and when he's calm like that, he's good."
Keeling noted Ways N Means is not entirely comfortable over the smaller tracks and will weigh his options with the next Gold leg scheduled for Grand River Raceway on Aug. 14 as the Muscle Mass-Mariongotchocolate colt is also Kentucky eligible.
Ways N Means paid $7.50 to win as the 5-2 second choice.
Driver Trevor Henry crafted a winning trip for Masstercraft ($13.20) in the $40,000 consolation as the Kyle Bossence trainee defeated 4-5 favourite Scintillating Tom in a career-best 1:53.4 clocking.
Leaving from post six, Henry and 5-1 shot Masstercraft established the early lead for the :28.2 opening quarter over Stormont Happy Day (Filion) with the heavy favourite, Scintillating Tom (McNair), getting away third before a sweeping move that landed him on top just before the midway mark in :57. Scintillating Tom took the field to three-quarters in 1:24.4 with Henry tracking in the two-hole and giving Masstercraft his cue entering the stretch to reach up and score the mild upset by three-quarters of a length. Stormont Happy Day crossed the wire next with the top three well ahead of the rest of the field that included a pair of final turn breakers from mid-pack.
The Muscle Mass-Pretty Crafty colt, who was fourth in the first Gold Series leg of the season on May 25 and last raced five weeks ago, earned his first victory in stakes competition and is now two-for-14 lifetime with earnings topping the $100,000 mark for owner Steven Colvin of Hanover, Ont.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)