Seven of North America’s top older trotting mares contested the $40,000 second leg of the Miss Versatility Series during Friday evening’s card at Mohawk Racetrack, and Paul MacDonell pulled off a major upset with Riveting Rosie.
The O’Brien Award-winning Riveting Rosie rushed to the lead from Post 3 and made every pole a winning one. She was rated beautifully through fractions of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25 before turning on the afterburners and finishing off her foes by a neck with a :27.4 kicker. Charmed Life came on strong to finish second, while Allie Labrook failed to fire after being treated to a pocket trip. She settled for third prize.
It was the second win of the season – and the 13th to date – for the four-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass-Rose De Vie Stena. John Bax trains the OSS graduate for Parkhill Stud Farm, Don Allensen, J And T Stable Newmarket along with John Hayes. The mare, who now boasts a bankroll of $943,153, paid $49.30.
Round two of the Town Pro Series also went postward during Friday’s card, and Caviart Scarlett pulled off the biggest shocker of the summer meet. Chris Christoforou rallied from out of the clouds with the three-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Caviart Sydney, and in the process blew up the toteboard to the tune of 99-1. She defeated Lindys Old Lady and race favourite Moonlit Dance in a time of 1:52.
Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman trains the homebred for Caviart Farms of Vienna, Virginia. It was the second lifetime win in five tries for the career winner of $18.640. She paid $211.20.
Three-year-old trotting colts and geldings made their way to the Campbellville oval, as well, for a host of OSS Grassroots divisions.
Namesmuscle took home a new lifetime mark thanks to his 1:56.3 score in the first division. Doug McNair marched the odds-on favourite first-over in the back half of the mile and then used a :28.2 closing panel to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Parkhill Lancelot. Taking home third prize was Thoughtful Leader.
Pam Forgie trains the son of Muscle Mass-Names Agnes for owner John Patterson of Bayfield, Ontario. It was the first win of the year – and the second to date – for the gelding who bumped his lifetime earnings to $49,019 with the win.
Duh Bubbees was a wire-to-wire winner in his $18,000 division for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Jamie Wilson. The homebred charged to the lead and threw down splits of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:26.2 before kicking home in a :29-second clip to stop the teletimer in 1:55.2. Call Me Richard’s late bid fell short by half a length. The show dough went to race favourite Kadabrasnewrecruit.
Sent off at odds of 5-1, the son of Up Front Ben-Nothing To Justify won for the second time this season for owner Chris Wilson of Huron Park, Ontario. The five-time winner pushed his cash stash to $44,389 with the win.
Pilgrims Joy blew away the foes he faced in his $18,000 OSS Grassroots division. James MacDonald came first-over going into the final turn with the Johnny McKinnon pupil, who wound up drawing clear to win by 5-1/4 lengths over Ontheroad De Vie in 1:56. Taking home third prize was Lets Be Honest.
The win improved the homebred’s 2015 record to 2-1-0 from five tries. Len Kordy of Picton, Ontario bred and owns the son of Pilgrims Taj-Joys Incredible. The $9,000 payday boosted the colt’s earnings to $47,573.
New Muscle AS won as he pleased in the fourth division for driver Rick Zeron and trainer Anette Lorentzon. The son of Muscle Mass-New Circle AS was treated to cover in the backstretch before steamrolling past the leaders in deep stretch. He used a :28-second closing quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Stormont Wizard. Buzz rounded out the top three finishers.
The victory improved the gelding’s 2015 record to 2-4-0 from seven starts and the lion’s share of the loot pushed his cash stash to $27,130. The homebred is owned by ACL Stuteri AB of Paris, Kentucky and Kjell Johansson of Sosdala, Sweden.
Its Huw You Know made it back-to-back OSS wins thanks to his 1:56.4 score in the final division for the duo of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Keith Jones. Fresh off a 2:00.2 score versus OSS Grassroots foes at Grand River Raceway, the son of Holiday Road-Lukes Elvira rushed to the front and sliced out fractions of :27.2, :57.4 and 1:27.2 before finishing off his foes with a :29.2 closing quarter. P L Intimidator was next best, with third prize going to Delcrest Massy.
Douglas McCarthy of Holland Landing, Ontario owns the gelding who is now a three-time winner to date. The $9,000 payday lifted his lifetime loot to $41,330.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.