Twenty-two rookies battled in the first OSS Gold Series event of the season during Monday’s 11-race card at Mohawk Racetrack, and sons of Sportswriter put on a clinic.
Rollwiththepunches was awarded the victory in a controversial opening division. The son of Sportswriter-Terroronthebeach was the second youngster under the finish line, but was later placed first when the ORC Judges placed Manny In Sports from first-to-sixth for gaining an unfair advantage when he went inside a pylon in the stretch. Rollwiththepunches earned a 1:54 speed badge in the maiden-breaking effort. He defeated Windsong Lightning and Colonys Best.
James MacDonald, the driver of the placed horse, Manny In Sports, took to his Twitter account to show his frustration with regards to the ORC Judges’ decision to place his horse. MacDonald @Jamesomac26 stated, “Worst call I have ever been involved with!! Absolutely ridiculous, no idea what they could have been looking at!! #hiwayrobbery”.
Chris Christoforou guided the Casie Coleman-trained rookie to the victory for West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Ontario. The colt was a $17,000 purchase from the 2013 Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Bob Ben And John gave Christoforou and Coleman their second trip to victory lane, and the colt gave his sire, Sportswriter, another stakes winner from what appears to be an outstanding first crop of youngsters. The colt, who is out of My Best Girl, brushed to the front in the backstretch and rolled the field through middle panels of :56.2 and 1:24.3 before roaring home in :28.2 to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Win One Soon in 1:53. York Seelster rallied to finish third.
West Wins Stable of Cambridge and Adriano Sorella of Milton, Ontario own the rookie who was a $17,000 purchase from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale.
Sporting The Look earned a speed badge of 1:53.2 with his front-stepping score in the final $70,000 division for Team Jamieson. The son of Sportswriter-Lyons Mandi led through middle splits of :56.4 and 1:25.4 before uncorking a :27.3 closing panel to win by three-quarters of a length over Physicallyinclined. Taking home the show dough was the favourite Go Daddy Go.
Jody Jamieson engineered the winning trip for Sporting The Look, who is owned by trainer Carl Jamieson, Thomas Kyron and his breeder, 30 Plus Stable.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.