There was a serious youth movement on display Thursday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, as three-year-old filly pacers sparred in a set of OSS Gold Series divisions and a host of two-year-olds – both pacers and trotters – made their pari-mutuel debuts.
This year’s Fan Hanover Stake champion, Wrangler Magic, captured her $105,000 OSS assignment in 1:51 for the duo of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Stephane Larocque. The daughter of Mach Three-Ja El Shamrock blasted to the lead from Post 4 and successfully chopped out fractions of :27, :55.1 and 1:23.1 before kicking home in :27.4 to win by a nose over Cast No Shadow. Delightful Hill, despite being subjected to a tough trip, was a bang-up third.
It was the fourth lifetime win for the homebred, who is owned by Thomas Kyron, Dr. Maurice Stewart, Brian Paquet and Bayama Farms Inc. The talented pacing lass has now racked up earnings totaling $513,894. She paid $2.90.
Solar Sister turned a two-hole trip into her fifth win of the season thanks to her career-best clocking of 1:50.3 in the second division.
Doug McNair grabbed the garden spot for Solar Sister, who stalked Ms Mac N Cheese through fractions of :26.1, :54.4 and 1:23.2 before angling out and taking a shot at the tempo setter. Solar Sister stormed home in :27 to win by a half-length margin over Ms Mac N Cheese. Taking home third prize in the rich tilt was Capela.
Gregg McNair trains the homebred daughter of Mach Three-Cabrini Hanover for David Willmot of King City and Clay Horner of Toronto, Ontario. The seven-time winner has already racked up more than $270,000 in earnings this season. The career winner of $485,690 paid $2
As for the two-year-olds in action, Could It Be Magic was an impressive winner in front-stepping fashion in her debut for trainer/driver Wayne Henry. The filly blasted to the lead from Post 8 and rolled the field through fractions of :27.2, :58.2 and 1:28.2 before using a :28.3 closing panel to win in 1:57 over Liberty Lane and Ready Any Time.
The daughter of Kadabra-In The Mean Time is owned by Henry Stable of Arthur and Fred Brayford of Alliston, Ontario. She was an $18,000 purchase from last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. She paid $27.90.
Willyorwonthe also pulled off an upset in his first lifetime start. The homebred son of Angus Hall-Mikestory marched to the lead and took the field to the quarter pole in :28.2 before releasing race favourite Unitaliano Bi to the top in the backstretch. That foe sliced out middle splits of :58.1 and 1:28 before being overtaken in the lane by the re-rallying Willyorwonthe. That colt used a :28.1 final frame to win in 1:56.3 over V For Victory and Deweylovernleaver.
Veteran horseman Bill Megens of Puslinch, Ontario, bred, owns and trains the youngster who paid $32.00 in the winning performance.
Cozy Beach won as she pleased in her pari-mutuel debut for trainer Casie Coleman. Chris Christoforou had the filly on the move at the quarter pole, and in a matter of strides she found herself on the lead. Once there, she led the group through fractions of :58.1 and 1:27.3 before turning on the jets in the lane. She fired home in :27.3 to win by two lengths over Miss Print in 1:55.1. Action Big rounded out the top three finishers.
The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Pears N Amoretto, who is owned by West Wins Stable and Lawrence Dumain, was a $37,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. The filly is a granddaughter of the stakes star, Armbro Amoretto (1:50.1 - $1,604,459).
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.