Three-year-old trotting fillies battled one another – and Mother Nature - in a rain-soaked round of OSS action Thursday evening at Mohawk Racetrack.
Could It Be Magic, who went 6-for-10 as a rookie, got into the win column for the first time this season thanks to her 1:59.4 score in the first of the $18,000 divisions for Grassrooters. Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, Could It Be Magic got away third before making a first-over move going to the half. She improved to be second in the backstretch before rallying again in the lane and posting the win by 1-1/2 lengths over Majestic Mistress. Taking home the show dough was Trumpets.
Trainer Wayne Henry mapped out the winning trip for the daughter of Kadabra-In The Mean Time. The career winner of $213,156 is owned by Ontario partners Fred Brayford of Alliston and Henry Stable of Arthur.
Magical Steph extended her winning streak to two-in-a-row thanks to her 1:59.2 triumph in the second division. This time it was Trevor Henry manufacturing the winning trip with the heavily-favoured daughter of Kadabra-I Like Stephanie. He sat second to the quarter pole before brushing his charge to the top. She sliced out middle panels of :59 and 1:29 before using a :30.2 closing panel to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Stonebridge Peace and Profound Patience.
Gary Lance trains the seven-time winner for GL Racing Inc of Port Perry, Ont. The lion’s share of the lifted her lifetime earnings $92,740.
Myretirementticket made it three straight wins for favourites in the Grassroots action thanks to her 1:59.3 tally for driver Jody Jamieson. The 3-2 choice was parked every step of the mile before working her way to the front and then drawing clear to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Powerful Glare. Taking home third prize with her last-to-third sweep was Silky Flashy Nfast.
Bred, owned and trained by Eli Wagler of Ingersoll, Ont., Myretirementticket improved this year’s record to 2-1-2 from 7 starts with the win. The five-time winner has now stashed away $64,408 in lifetime earnings.
Haileysgonedancing broke the string of winning favourites, though she was anything but a longshot. Sent off at odds of 3-1, the daughter of Manofmanymissions-Too Busy To Cook marched to the lead from Post 9 for driver Sylvain Filion and together they cut out fractions of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28 before slipping home in :30 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Sunrise Avenue. Very Classy overcame Post 10 to finish a hard-closing third.
Trainer Tony O’Sullivan of Puslinch, Ont. co-owns the sophomore with Kirk McKinnon of Brampton and Lorne Keller of Exeter, Ont. She now owns a 2-1-0 record from seven trips to the track this year. The four-time winner has banked more than $50,000 to date.
Anneli Hanover hauled home the final piece of hardware thanks to her deep stretch heroics. The daughter of Majestic Son-Above All Hanover was treated to a ground-saving trip by driver James MacDonald, who later shook loose with the filly who charged home in :29.1 to win by 2-3/4 lengths over race favourite Magical Valentine in 1:58.1. Traviata settled for third after doing the first-over work.
Mark Steacy trains the improving youngster for Katherine Steacy, Landmark 8 Racing Stable, David McDonald and Barry White. After going winless in eight starts as a freshman, the improving filly has racked up a 4-0-1 record form nine trips to the track this season. She’s quickly closing in on $30,000 in lifetime earnings.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.