Woodbine Mohawk Park played host to a pair of $20,000 divisions of the first leg of the Millard Farms Series for two-year-old trotters on Monday (July 21) seeing Royal Captain cruise in 1:54.4 to stay perfect in his young career and Halton Hill breaking his maiden in 1:58.3 as the 1-2 choice in the second split.
Royal Captain and driver Tyler Jones made quick work of the outside post seven, blitzing to the top and trotting three-lengths clear to the quarter pole in a quick :27.1. Royal Captain remained a loose leader to the half in :57.1 over pocket-sitter Tymal Starstruck (Doug McNair) while Captain Code (Scott Young) advanced into third first-up. Captain Code continued to march to the leader's wheel on the final turn, with Royal Captain reaching three-quarters first in 1:26.3.
Under confident Jones handling, Royal Captain remained just out of reach in the lane of both Captain Code and Tymal Starstruck, reaching the wire a length clear in 1:54.4. Captain Code edged out Tymal Starstruck by three parts of a length to be second.
Trained by Dustin Jones, the winning son of Captain Corey-You Will Be Queen is now two-for-two to start his career. Bred by Dustin Jones Stables and Hebert Horses Inc., Royal Captain has bagged $18,000 for owners Royal Captain Group.
After finishing second in the first division, the driver and trainer combo of Scott and Robert Young teamed up to take the second division with Halton Hill.
Scratched down to a field of six, Halton Hill grabbed the pocket spot early as the 1-2 favourite while I Drink She Drives (Bob McClure) cut the quarter in :30.1. Halton Hill quickly moved from second to take over the top spot on the backstretch while the pace remained tepid to the half in 1:01.2. Halton Hill began to pick things up on the far turn, racing 2-1/2 lengths clear at three-quarters in 1:30.4.
The lead only continued to grow for Halton Hill in the stretch, trotting home in :27.4 to be clear by 4-1/2 lengths on the wire in 1:58.3. I Drink She Drives held for second, with Classified (James MacDonald) finishing in the show spot.
After finishing third in his career debut, Halton Hill broke his maiden in start number two for owners Young Chiaravalloti, Glengate Farms and Premier And Associates Farm. The gelded son of Muscle Hill-Pandoras Box now sports earnings of $11,920.
In addition to the Millard Farms series, two-year-old pacing colts stepped into the spotlight with a trio of $25,000 Grassroots divisions.
Twin B Stanley kicked the second leg off with a 5-1 mild upset when he broke his maiden in his third start by going first-up narrowly scoring in 1:53.4. The Kyle Fellows trained son of Cattlewash-Telltale Hanover was driven by James Macdonald for owners Yolanda Fellows, Blair Corbeil, Arpad Szabo and Mike McAllister.
Trainer Anthony Beaton picked up victories in a pair of Grassroots divisions, with Jasper Hill overcoming post ten to score first-over in 1:54.1. Tom Hill's homebred son of Cattlewash-Pretty Katherine was driven to his first career victory in his second outing by Doug McNair as the even-money favourite.
Beaton would go one-two in the fourth division, with Mega Moves and Louis-Philippe Roy beating out stablemate Lyons Gustavofring (Jonathan Drury) in 1:54. Beaton also co-owns the winning son of Dancin Lou-Megaball Hanover with David Mercer, Domenic Chiavaralle and breeders Anvil And Lace Farm.
Brindle and Jody Jamieson teamed up to win the third and fastest division after moving to the top up the backstretch and not looking back from there to score in 1:53.3 as the 1-2 favourite. Now two-for-two, the son of award winning parents Bulldog Hanover-Cabrini Hanover is trained by Dr. Ian Moore for Brindle Stable.
In addition to the youngsters, a pair of $15,000 Pop-Up Series divisions were contested for trotters who are non-winners of $25,000 with a minimum of ten starts in 2025. Devils Arch (Jody Jamieson, $13) took the first split in 1:54.1 for trainer Carl Jamieson while the second division went to Sparks Fly (Ed Hensley, $5.70) in 1:54 for trainer Ashleigh Hensley.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)