A major youth movement was on display Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park as two-year-old pacing colts and geldings sparred in 10 OSS events – eight for the Grassroots level and a pair of rich events for stars of the Gold group.
Bettors Wish was victorious in what turned out to be a controversial, first division of the Gold Series.
Paul MacDonell got away sixth with Bettors Wish while Play Times Over rolled to the top and provided first-half fractions of :27 and :56.3. Race favourite Stag Party, who sat fourth in the early going, stepped on a wheel when he came off the rail from fourth and made a break in stride as a result.
He quickly reset, though, and shot to the top. He was confronted by Bettors Wish at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1, and the two sons of Bettors Delight battled the length of the stretch before Stag Party finally put away that determined foe in 1:51.2. Bettors Wish was a half-length in arrears, with Sunshine Finest finishing third.
After a lengthy inquiry, the AGCO Judges placed Stag Party from first to second for causing interference to MacDonell and Bettors Wish in the backstretch. Bettors Wish earned the win and the flashy record of 1:51.2 to go with it.
Chantal Mitchell trains the son of Bettors Delight-Lifetime Star for Chris Ryder, Bella Racing Ltd, Fair Island Farm Inc and Kenneth Solomon. The victory improved the youngster’s record to 2-0-1 from three trips to the track. The lion’s share of the loot from the $98,800 affair lifted his earnings to $64,560.
Bronx Seelster captured the second Gold division – worth $98,000 – in a sharp clocking of 1:52 for the team of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Wayne McGean.
The son of Big Jim-Tarport Baccarat overcame early interference to get away fifth while Arcane Seelster motored to the lead and supplied the field with fractions of :26.4, :56.1 and 1:24.2. Bronx Seelster followed cover in the backstretch before winding up four-wide coming out of the final turn. He stormed home in :26.3 to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Caviart Rockland. The Regulator was third.
“I like the little horse, he’s all right, and he raced great tonight,” said driver Trevor Henry. “He’s just a little horse, but he’s got a good brush to him.”
“January on I liked the colt, and I had opportunity to go away on trips and I wouldn’t go, because I liked this colt,” admitted trainer Wayne McGean. “And he come along the way I thought he would really; he’s alright.”
Capers 3 Stable of Sydney, NS owns the colt who now owns a 2-1-0 record from four trips to the track. The $49,000 payday boosted his bankroll to $86,500.
Prairie Midnight kicked off the card with a 1:54.1 triumph in his $17,500 Grassroots division.
The son of Big Jim-Stonebridge Luna rallied first-over, and despite getting very rough gaited around the final turn he managed to keep his composure and fire home in :26.2 for the win over Century Farroh and DA Delightful.
Doug McNair mapped out the winning trip with the Mike Deters trainee. Laurie Poulin of Okeechobee, FL owns the youngster who now owns a 1-1-0 record from three tries. He pushed his lifetime earnings to $10,100 with the win.
Quickstar Bluechip also used come-from-behind tactics to take home top prize in his $17,500 assignment for the tandem of driver Bob McClure and conditioner Luc Blais.
The son of Bettors Delight-Lyford Cay got away third before getting shuffled to sixth, but when McClure found a late seam the colt kicked home in :28.1 to post the win by a length over Chanting Hanover in 1:55.3. Big Kiz took home the show dough.
Determination of Montreal, QC shelled out $130,000 to purchase the colt, who was victorious at first asking, from last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Better Moonon Over also celebrated a maiden-breaking score thanks to his 1:52.4 effort in the third division.
Chris Christoforou carved out a golden, two-hole trip for the Blake MacIntosh trainee who stormed home in :27.2 to post the win by three-quarters of a length over Moonshine Kisses. Face The Challenge took home the show dough in the $17,500 affair.
Sent off at odds of 19-1, the son of Betterthancheddar-Ingrid Hanover improved his rookie record to 1-0-1 from three tries for owners/breeders Dan & Kim Sergeant of Straffordville, Ont. He’s stashed away $11,405 to date.
JMs Delight got roughed up early before clearing to the lead and holding on to win by a nose in his assignment.
Louis Philippe Roy kept the gelding alive through the lane after being parked out early, and the end result was a nose decision over B Stoney in 1:52.4. Wager On Me was a lapped-on third in what was on of the closest finishes on the entire card.
Aaron Lambert trains the son of Bettors Delight-Aliina Rocknroll for owner Greg Merton of Monticello, NY. Purchased for $14,000 from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale, the gelding is now 2-for-3 in his career. He’s stashed away close to $12,000 in the process.
Battle Strong made multiple moves in his $17,850 division for driver Sylvain Filion, who got the colt to dig down deep for a nose decision in 1:53.
The Tony O’Sullivan trainee was the leader at the half in :56.4, and he regained the lead in the lane. His closing quarter in :28.1 was enough to earn him the narrow decision over Carsons Shadow. Balder Son took home third prize in the 11-horse affair.
The son of Betterthancheddar-Shipps Bikini is now 2-for-3 to start his career for the Hutt Racing Stable of Paoli, PA. The lion’s share of the purse boosted his bankroll to $19,375.
Machdavid was sent off as the 5-2 favourite in his division, and the Murray Brethour trainee didn’t disappoint his pari-mutuel backers.
The son of Mach Three-Early Dismissal got away third before rushing to the lead in the backstretch. He led the field through middle splits of :56.4 and 1:25.2 before turning aside a stern challenger from Mach West in the late stages of the mile. A :28.1 final quarter earned Machdavid the win by 1-1/2 lengths over Mach West in 1:53.3. Passionate Prince was third.
Brethour shares ownership on the gelding with co-owners/breeders Jeff & Lori Thomson of Chesley, Ont. Now undefeated in two tries, Machdavid lifted his lifetime earnings to $18,675 with the win.
Cliffhanger got away fourth and rallied to win his $17,500 division for the team of driver Doug McNair and trainer Tony Alagna.
The son of Vintage Master-Mystery Game came first-over on the way to the three-quarter pole and then used a :27.3 closing quarter to win by 1-3/4 lengths over race favourite Sports Hero in 1:54. Village Champ took home third prize.
The homebred, who is owned by Alagna Racing LLC of Manalapan, NJ, broke his maiden in the process.
Keystone Concrete also remains undefeated in two tries thanks to his front-stepping triumph in the final division.
Rick Zeron rolled the Rob Fellows trainee through fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.3 before getting the youngster to kick home in :27.3. He wound up winning by 1-3/4 lengths over Boys Turn in 1:53.1. OK Kudo rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Purchased for $18,000 from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale, the son of Bettors Delight-Keystone Caitlyn pushed his bankroll to $18,500 for owners Yolanda Fellows, Arpad Szabo and Blair Corbeil.
(With quotes from OSS)
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.