Sent off at 11-1 despite a career-best Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots win a week ago, Maize And Blue produced another lifetime mark with a narrow victory in the $22,000 conditioned feature trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday, July 2.
The sophomore gelding marched out of post seven under orders from Doug McNair and crossed over to the front entering the first turn. Toss Of The Dice (Mark MacDonald), who also won a Grassroots division last week, exited the three-hole past the quarter in :26.4 and took the lead before the half in :56.3. Maize And Blue rode the pocket through three-quarters in 1:24.4 and waited for the inside path with the first-over Th Trix R Forkids (James MacDonald) to his outside at the top of the stretch. Maize And Blue motored past Toss Of The Dice at the pylons in mid-stretch, then held off the traffic-splitting Kaylas Incharge (Travis Henry) to win by a head in 1:53.1. Toss Of The Dice finished third.
Maize And Blue, named after the colours of the NCAA’s University of Michigan Wolverines, has been on a tear of late with four straight wins. The son of Green Manalishi S-New Years Day scored his first Ontario Sires Stakes victory in his prior outing in the Grassroots second leg at Mohawk. The Kyle Fellows trainee is now four-for-seven this year. He has won five times in 19 career appearances and earned $78,015 for owner-breeder Edward Wilson of Seagrave, Ont. Win tickets on the gelding returned $24.20.
To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)