Just two races into his career, freshman pacing colt Beau Jangles is already building an impressive resume in the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) program.
On Saturday, July 19 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, the 1-2 favoured son of Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill won his second $140,000 Gold event in as many starts, storming to a 1:51.1 victory in a talented field of 10.
In the most recent Gold, Bob McClure settled Beau Jangles fourth off the gate from post eight as both No Waitlist (Travis Henry) and Tilthecowscomehome (Jody Jamieson) left hard from posts six and 10, respectively. Ultimately, it was Windor (Doug McNair) who pressed on to lead the field to the :26.4 quarter. McClure had Beau Jangles out and rolling shortly after, and the colt claimed the front before hitting the half-mile marker in :55.4. He took the field through the 1:24.2 third-quarter station and powered home to record a 1-1/2-length victory. Tilthecowscomehome was a strong second despite the outside post. Windor went inside two pylons, but judges ruled he was forced inside the cones and kept him up for third, followed by Borderline Mobby (James MacDonald) and No Waitlist.
Beau Jangles, a Dr. Ian Moore trainee bred by Tara Hills Stud of Port Perry, Ont., already has earnings of $140,000 for owners Graham Grace Stables LLC of Clifton, Va., Kiwi Stables LLC of La Plata, Md. and Bolton Stables of Clermont, Fla. Beau Jangles was purchased for $90,278 at the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sales Company’s yearling sale in Harrisburg, Pa. He paid $3 to win.
Beau Jangles won the first Gold event in the division on July 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:50.1. McClure said the colt was even more impressive in his most recent outing.
“He felt even better tonight,” McClure told Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis in the winner’s circle on Saturday. “I knew with [Tilthecowscomehome having] the outside post, there was going to be a lot of horses leaving to follow him. So, he left, and then I ducked him behind, and [Beau Jangles] worked his way to the front.
“He's just a real pro about everything, and he got stretched pretty good to get there and he just shut down in the third quarter… and then as soon as I called on him to kick home, he just kicked into gear. And he's just kind of playing around out there. His ears were up and everything. But when they got to him after the wire there, he just wanted to go around again.”
Dr. Moore said Beau Jangles already has an impressive array of talents.
“I told Bobby before the race, ‘You can do whatever you want, but probably not too far from the front,’” Moore said. “He'll sit in a hole, no problem. He'll do it whichever way you want. He doesn't wear any earplugs. So, he's been very good so far, and not like some of them, you know, when they get on the front a bit and they get a little racy, they get a little hard to handle. But this guy's been good. He was good today.”
The trainer said Beau Jangles is large for a two-year-old and his stride appears to be lengthening.
“I was just watching the replay on the big screen behind us and it looks like his hopples might be too tight now, because he's striding out more than he used to,” Moore said. “We set them about 60 inches when we broke him, and then we never touched them. So, I'll check them out tomorrow. The problem is, with two-year-olds, is that you only race them 10, 11, times, and every race is a big race. Do you let them out an inch or two or what do you do? It’s a hard take sometimes, but I think I can let them out. He’s very sure-footed and very steady and so it should be no problem.”
Moore said Beau Jangles may race next in the Battle of Waterloo, which has its final on August 4 at Grand River Raceway. But first, he has to discuss the options with the colt’s owners. The next Gold Series event for two-year-old pacing colts is August 14 at Mohawk.
Later on the card, Mohawk Gold Cup winner Brue Hanover extended his win streak to four as he went back-to-back in the $36,000 Preferred Pace.
Third to the quarter in a quick :25.4, MacDonald sent the 1-9 shot to the engine on the backstretch and managed the middle fractions to :54.2 and 1:22 while alone on the lead. Four horses gave chase down the stretch, but MacDonald had little work to do as Brue Hanover marched to victory in 1:49. Century Komodo (McClure) found late pace and cut the deficit to a length while taking the place spot. Arbitrage Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.) finished third.
Brue Hanover added another tally to his impressive season, upping his stats to 13 wins in 16 starts. He is undefeated at Woodbine Mohawk Park this year for trainer Dave Menary with seven Preferred wins. The five-year-old Stay Hungry-Blind Ambition gelding is now 31-for-81 lifetime with $626,465 in earnings. Burke Racing Stable LLC co-owns him with Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Caviar N Crackers won her second straight $36,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace, ending the three-race win streak of rival mare Grit N Grace in the process.
Caviar And Crackers (Ed Hensley) opted to sit back and let things develop as the wings folded, slotting in fourth as Grit N Grace (Jody Jamieson) charged to the front in a :27.3 opening panel. Hensley moved Caviar N Crackers as the field reached the backstretch, and the mare glided to the top before the half in :56.1.
Angostura Hanover (Trevor Henry) shifted out and pressured the leader to three-quarters in 1:23.4, but Caviar N Crackers shrugged her off at the top of the lane and sprinted for home on top. Neither Angostura Hanover nor Grit N Grace were able to worry Caviar N Crackers down the lane as she flew to the finish in :26.2, lengthening her winning margin to 2-1/2 lengths in a 1:50.1 mile. Glenboro (Travis Cullen) closed for second over Grit N Grace. The winner returned $3.20.
Caviar N Crackers is now eight-for-22 this year with six wins in the Preferred ranks at Mohawk and a victory in the Forest City Pace. The Captive Audience-Crackers Hot Shot mare is trained by Ashleigh Hensley, who co-owns her with Ed Hensley. The five-year-old mare has won 20 of 83 lifetime appearances and earned $433,681.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Ontario Racing & Standardbred Canada)