Unstable Genius broke his maiden in his first career pari-mutuel start, winning the lone $150,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Series Leg 1 event for two-year-old trotting colts on Monday, July 6 in 1:54.2 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The victory, which came after a long technical delay caused by a mass network outage, put $75,000 on the card of the gelded son of Muscle Mass out of Pretty Crafty and pushed winning driver James MacDonald over $90 million in career earnings.
Sent off as the betting favourite in the field of eight, Unstable Genius sat near the back of the pack in the early going as Arm N Hammer (Bob McClure) led the field through the quarter-mile fraction of :27.4. Grand Manalishi (Tyler Jones) took command before the :57.2 half, but shortly after, Tyler Moore sent Detonater Hanover toward the front out of fourth spot followed closely by Unstable Genius. Detonater Hanover was in the lead at the three-quarter pole, reached in 1:26.3, but Unstable Genius got past in mid-stretch to win by one length. Detonater Hanover held on for second, followed by Grand Manalishi in third.
“That’s kind of unheard of for two-year-old trotting colts starting out here – a mile in [1]:54 and finish the way we did,” MacDonald told Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis in a post-race interview. “We were smoking. So, definitely a great first impression and a great first debut.”
The mile was just three-fifths of a second off the 1:53.4 OSS record for a two-year-old trotting colt on a seven-eighths-mile track set by You Got It Kemp in 2024 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Unstable Genius paid $4.50 to win.
A $140,000 yearling purchase at the 2025 London Classic Yearling Sale, Unstable Genius was bred by Ashley and Dean Wilson and is owned by Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, Pennsylvania while trained by Dave Menary.
“Dave was so high on [Unstable Genius training down],” said MacDonald. “He is such a great trainer and has had so many great horses. So, when they’re talking them up like that, it gives you a little extra confidence in them. He was spot on because the horse couldn’t have been any better tonight.”
As for going over $90 million in career earnings, MacDonald said, “It means a lot. Doug [McNair] and I have been talking about it, because he’s closing in on $100 million, and I remember just watching the greats when I was starting here and seeing them get their signs for $100 million. I was thinking, ‘I wonder if I will ever get half of that or even a quarter of that.’ It’s a number that really stood out to me when I went watching great drivers from the past here, and if I ever get there – and I hope I do – it will be a pretty special day.”
On the Monday card at Mohawk, there were four $30,000 Grassroots divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Rhymes With Regina (Cattlewash-Saskatoon) won her pari-mutuel debut in 1:53.2 with Bob McClure driving for trainer John Pentland, who co-owns with breeder Aaron Waxman of Carlisle, Ont., and co-owner Sherri Sumner of Dorchester, Ont.
Jersey Bulldog (Bulldog Hanover-Gallie Beach) broke her maiden with a 1:53.3 score, giving McClure and Pentland another victory. Pentland and Sumner also co-own this winner with Jack Darling Stables Ltd. of Cambridge, Ont., and Alan Alber of Thornhill, Ont. Jersey Bulldog was purchased for $56,338 at the 2025 Standardbred Horse Sales Company’s yearling sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Lyons Bulldog (Bulldog Hanover-Ava Hanover) won her pari-mutuel debut in 1:54 in rein to Mark MacDonald for trainer Dr. Ian Moore. Lyons Bulldog was a $43,056 purchase at the 2025 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by owner Threelyonsracing of Brantford, Ont.
Downtown Boogie (Cattlewash-Dance Until Dawn) gave MacDonald and Moore a Grassroots double, winning her pari-mutuel debut in 1:55.3. Downtown Boogie was a $208,333 purchase at the 2025 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont., and Kiwi Stables of La Plata, Maryland.
Additionally, as part of a natural grand slam to end the evening for MacDonald, double millionaire Amigo Volo captured his 50th career victory in the finale.
Grabbing control from the outset from the outside post nine in the $22,000 conditioned affair, Amigo Volo led unchallenged through fractions of :26.3, :56 and 1:24.1 before cruising to a 1-3/4-length victory over Tactical Strike (Mark MacDonald) and Faith Step (Bob McClure) in 1:52.
Meg Crone trains the victorious nine-year-old Father Patrick-Margarita Momma gelding for owners Pinske Stables of Plato, Minnesota and David J. Miller of Lake Mary, Florida. Amigo Volo has won 50 of 146 tries lifetime, hitting the board 101 times while banking $2,985,366 for his career.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(With files from Ontario Racing)