Osceola has ticked a lot of boxes in his young career with appearances in the Breeders Crown and Hambletonian among numerous top Canadian races, but the Gregg McNair student achieved a new letter on his resume with a new lifetime mark in 1:51.4, set in the $32,000 Preferred 2 Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday, July 8.
As the wings drew away, the early battle for the lead formed, thinning out as the turn straightened up the backstretch. Handsome Sebastian (Sylvain Filion) came out on top, reaching the quarter in :26.2, followed by New Rules (James MacDonald) and Osceola. After the quarter mile marker, Doug McNair pulled Osceola out and around the top two to take over the lead. The pair sat comfortably through the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:24. Osceola braved the stretch, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.4 over Handsome Sebastian. Patriarch Hanover (Trevor Henry) completed the triactor.
Owned by Gregg McNair, Willow Oak Ranch, and Paul Hawman, Osceola is a four-year-old son of Muscle Mass and the Conway Hall mare Armbro Exquisite. He moved his seasonal tally to 4-2-0 in seven starts with $137,575 banked. In his career of 32 starts, Osceola has produced a record of 10-3-5, banking $576,655. Heavily backed at the windows, he returned $2.40 to win.
Gregg and Doug McNair doubled up in victories, winning one of three $20,000 divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series with Crack Shot ($3.20). After two winning qualifiers, the Bettors Delight - Beautyonthebeach colt put in a 1:55 winning mile by 3-1/4 lengths for Gregg McNair, Dale Hunter, Frank Brundle, and George Kerr.
Tito N Cheddar ($18.20) upset in the first OSS Grassroots with Louis-Philippe Roy piloting the Murray Brethour student to a half length score in 1:54.1 off 8-1 odds.
Blue Bar ($4.80) completed the OSS Grassroots splits for freshman pacing colts and geldings, winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:55 with Travis Cullen in the bike for Jodie Cullen.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)