Fifty-six freshman trotting colts and geldings flocked to Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday evening to take part in the third OSS Grassroots event of the season, and there were upsets aplenty.
Thee Desperado, who was sent off at odds of 3-1, took the opening division in 1:58.3 for driver Randy Waples and trainer Brent Belore. The son of Manofmanymissions-Front Porch Swing made a miscue behind the gate before regaining his composure and settling into a three-hole trip. Romeo fired to the front from Post 9 and threw down fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:29.1. Thee Desperado shook loose in the lane and used a :28.3 kicker to win by half a length over Recreate. Romeo had to settle for the show dough.
First-time starter Thee Desperado, who races for the partnership of Karen McIntyre, Daniel McIntyre, Joshua McKibbin and Nancy Newport, was purchased for $15,000 from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale.
Holiday Bro upset the apple cart to the tune of 32-1 in his division for driver Phil Hudon. The gelding, who started from Post 9, got away eighth while Dynamic Edge shot to the top and served up first-half fractions of :28.3 and 1:00 before giving way to Muscle Time going into the final turn. Muscle Time opened up by 3-1/4 lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:30, but he couldn’t hold off Holiday Bro who circled three-wide late and kicked home in :29.3 to win by a pair of lengths over United Bi in 2:00.3. Muscle Time settled for the show dough.
Ivan Gallant of Rockwood, ON owns and trains the gelded son of Holiday Road-Armbro Xanadu, who was a Harrisburg Yearling Sale purchase for $11,000. He has a win and a second-place finish in his first two tries, and he’s banked $13,500 in the process.
Windsun Missile overcame Post 10 to win his division at odds of 5-1 for trainer/driver Per Henriksen. The ridgling got away seventh and followed JLS Bad Moon Risin and Welland Seelster through fractions of :29.2, 1:00.4 and 1:31.1. Windsun Missile latched onto a second-over trip on the way to the half, and after tipping three-wide turning for home he used a :28.2 closing quarter to win by half a length over race favourite JLS Bad Moon Risin. Welland Seelster faded to finish third.
Steve Organ, ASA Farm and Darryl Drain own the son of Kadabra-Windsun Hampton, who redeemed himself after making a break in his debut and finished up the track. He was a $40,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Georgies Pockets, who was sent off as the second choice in the wagering, captured the fourth division to remain undefeated for trainer Mel Turcotte. The homebred got away fourth for driver Steve Condren before grabbing a second-over trip in the backstretch. Cool Creek Victory chopped out panels of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:30.3 before coming under serious attack in the lane. Condren tipped Georgies Pocket off cover and the colt fired home in :27.3 to win by a neck over UF Musclemass Star in 1:58.3. Cool Creek Victory weakened late and settled for third prize.
The son of Muscle Mass-Striking Pockets races for M T Pockets Stables of Pompano Beach, FL. He went through the auction ring at the Lexington Select Yearling Sale last fall, but came home after fetching a final bid of $18,000. He’s now banked $18,000 thanks to wins in his first two assignments.
Frankly Speaking rallied from out of the clouds to take home the hardward in the fifth division, and he put a smile on the faces of longshot players that backed him at odds of 45-1. Randy Waples engineered the come-from-behind score for the Mark Steacy student, who defeated Asterix and Clone The Tone in his maiden-breaking moment by tripper in the timer in 1:59.2.
The son of Angus Hall-Jayportcashforlife, who was a $12,000 purchase from last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale, won for the first time in three tries for partners Frank Spagnolo of Potsdam, NY and Frank Schimizzi of Ottawa, ON.
The only favourite to win an OSS Grassroots division was Willyorwonthe in the final split. He was a gate-to-wire winner in 1:58.4 for driver Mike Saftic. The 4-5 choice whacked out fractions of :28.2, :59 and 1:30.1 before sprinting home in :28.3 to fend off the pocket sitter, The Land Shark, by three-quarters of a length. Third went to Sass.
Bred, owned and trained by Bill Megens of Puslinch, ON, the son of Angus Hall-Mikestory won for the second time in four tries while pushing his cash stash to $14,400.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.