The opening leg of the Dream Maker Series for two-year old pacing colts and geldings kicked off Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and sons of Captaintreacherous swept the set of $15,000 divisions.
It was Capt Midnight hauling down his heavily-favoured stablemate, Captain Nemo, in the first division in a sparkling time of 1:51.3.
Andrew McCarthy dropped in third in the early going with the Tony Alagna trainee while barnmate Captain Nemo sliced out fractions of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:24.3. Capt Midnight rallied late and used a :26.2 closing quarter to win by a head over Captain Nemo, with the pocket-sitting Day Delight finishing a well-beaten third.
The son of Captaintreacherous-It Was Fascination is owned by Marvin Katz, Kenneth Jacobs, Brad Grant and Captain Kirk Racing. The colt, who was a $350,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale, won for the first time in three starts.
In the second division it was Allywag Hanover going coast-to-coast for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Casie Coleman in 1:52.1.
Race favourite Chief Mate and Well Ell battled to the quarter pole in :27.3 before Chief Mate eventually worked his way to the top. He was quickly overtaken, however, by Allywag Hanover who proceeded to wheel the field through middle panels of :56.4 and 1:25.4. A :26.2 closing quarter was unleashed by Allywag Hanover, and that propelled him to a four-length score over Chief Mate. Captain Kirk stormed home in :26 to grab the show dough.
Brad Gray and Dan Lagace share ownership on the son of Captaintreacherous-Panderosa Hanover, who was a $95,000 purchase at last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. He’s now 2-for-2 to start his career.
Monday’s program also featured the $34,000 Preferred Handicap for trotters, and for the second straight week it was Run Director turning in a gusty effort and a sharp victory for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Ben Baillargeon.
Dancer Hall marched to the lead and got away with sensible panels of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:25.3, but he couldn’t go the distance. Run Director came first over in the backstretch, and applied heavy pressure to the leader around the final turn before using a :27.1 closing quarter to win by three-quarters of a length over Treasured Tee in 1:52.4. Free Willy Hanover took home third prize.
The four-year-old son of Kadabra-Keep The Spirit now owns a 4-for-7 record this season for owners/breeders Tom and Elizabeth Rankin of St. Catharines, Ont. The 10-time winner bumped his bankroll over $500,000 with the win.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.