Freshmen were on display on Tuesday, July 9 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with the Ontario Sires Stakes headlining the card. The feature events were the pair of $95,000 OSS Gold divisions for freshman trotting colts and geldings.
Galen Erso posted the faster time of the two divisions with a 1:56.1 score in the second split. Doug McNair piloted the Gregg McNair student from post five in the field of 10.
As the wings drew away, Good Golly Hanover (Paul MacDonell) was the quickest off the gate and took the early lead to the quarter in :28.4. Galen Erso got away fourth before tipping out first over. At the :58.2 half, Galen Erso achieved the lead from the outside. He then took over and opened up to a two-length lead by the three-quarters in 1:27.4. With enough of a jump on the field, Galen Erso continued home to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.1. Artful Dodger (Sylvain Filion) closed sharply and finished second while Chicago Hall (James MacDonald) grabbed the show spot.
Marcus Melander bred and owns the freshman son of Green Manalishi S and the Conway Hall mare Wygant Princess. Galen Erso earned his first win in two starts and moved his young career bankroll to $53,251. As the 2-1 second choice, the colt returned $5.80 to win.
LMC Wagon Wheel grabbed the second division with trainer Pat Hudon in the bike.
Hudon and his student eased out of the gate from the center of the wings and took back to fifth, maintaining position through splits in :28.1, :57.1 and 1:27.2, set by The Hitman Heart (Trevor Henry). Before the three-quarter pole, Hudon tipped LMC Wagon Wheel to the outside, third over behind Macthenight (Tyler Jones) and Gravenhurst (Sylvain Filion). With a :29.2 last quarter, LMC Wagon Wheel passed his challengers to win by a length in 1:57.4. Getthegreen (Roger Mayotte) sprinted to take second and Gravenhurst saved show.
LMC Wagon Wheel is a freshman gelded son of Wheeling N Dealin and the Muscle Mass mare LMC Marshmellow owned by Frank Cirillo. He earned his first career victory in three starts and moved his lifetime sum to $49,420 with the lion's share of the purse. He returned $23.60 for the 11-1 upset.
Four $20,000 OSS Grassroots divisions for freshman pacing fillies served as part of the undercard at Mohawk on Tuesday with Chantilly ($2.80) topping the action as the fastest winner in 1:54. James MacDonald piloted the Nick Gallucci student to a 4-3/4-length romp in the first division. The triumph was the first victory for the Big Jim-Shiraz Seelster daughter.
Forrest Leah ($10.30) finished third in the second division, but after placings for a pylon violation and interference, the John Thomson-trained and driven Bettors Delight-Lady Jake filly was placed first in her mile clocked in 1:56.4.
Tricky Wicky ($37.60) posted an 18-1 upset in the third division, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1 with Jody Jamieson in the bike for Rene Dion.
Saddlebags ($22.60) and Bob McClure completed the Grassroots Series action for the evening as the pair won by three-quarters in 1:56.3 in 10-1 upset fashion for trainer David Menary.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)