Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings aren’t known for being very reliable early in their careers, but if you’re name is Thee Desperado it doesn’t seem to matter if he minds his manners or not – he still finds a way to win.
Thee Desperado, who entered his $18,000 OSS Grassroots division Tuesday evening at Mohawk Racetrack with two wins in as many starts, made a break in the first turn before making a huge recovery en route to winning again for trainer Brent Belore. The gelding, who got away third, miscued just before the quarter pole and plummeted through the field as a result. He reset and tracked cover around the final turn before kicking out wide and using a :28.2 closing panel to win by three-quarters of a length over JLS Bad Moon Risin. Taking home the third prize was Innovative Force.
Hall of Famer Steve Condren mapped out the winning trip for the son of Manofmanymissions-Front Porch Swing who is owned by Karen and Daniel McIntyre along with Joshua McKibbin and Nancy Newport. The freshman has banked $27,000 to date.
Georgies Pockets captured the opening division by a narrow margin for Hall of Fame driver Steve Condren. The colt got away fourth and watched Warrawee Rob slice out first-half fractions of :28 and :58.3. Condren came first over with his charge going into the final turn, and he was engaged in battle with the leader to the three-quarter pole in 1:28.4. Georgies Pockets used a :29.1 closing quarter to win by a head over Muscles For Life. Recreate took home the show dough.
Mel Turcotte trains the homebred son of Muscle Mass-Striking Pockets for M T Pockets Stables of Pompano Beach, FL. The victory was his third of the season from four tries and the lion’s share of the purse boosted his earnings to $31,500.
Tough Get Going got roughed up to make the lead, but once he cleared he it was game over for the others. Gonna Fly had the lead at the quarter pole in :28.3 with Tough Get Going parked and driving from his Post 9 starting spot. Paul MacDonell hustled Tough Get Going to the lead in the backstretch, and once the gelding cleared he led through middle splits of :58.2 and 1:29.2. A :30.3 closing quarter was more than enough for Tough Get Going to break his maiden in 2:00. Runner-up Gonna Fly was 2-3/4 lengths in arrears, with third prize earned by race favourite Dynamic Edge.
The homebred son of Kadabra-One Tough Lass is trained by Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman for owners Mel Hartmann, Herb Liverman and David Mc Duffee. The youngster bumped his bankroll to $10,440 with the victory.
Money Mission posted his second consecutive OSS Grassroots win for trainer/driver Rick Zeron thanks to his 2:00 triumph in the third division. He was parked past the quarter in :29.1 before working his way to the top and dictated the terms of the tempo through tepid panels of 1:00 and 1:31.3. A :28.3 kicker was the knockout punch for the colt who drew clear to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Asterix in 2:00.1. Taking home the show dough was Manofmanyimages.
Sent off as the even-money favourite, Money Mission improved his 2015 record to 2-1-0 from five tries for the Rick Zeron Stables, Cool Cat Racing Inc and Paul Marion. The $9,000 payday lifted the rookie’s bankroll to $23,400.
P C Foreign Affair pulled off the biggest upset of the night when he crossed the line first at odds of 24-1 for trainer/driver Curtis Clements. The gelding was treated to a ground-saving trip in the three-hole for most of the mile while Magic Missions and The Land Shark took turns on the lead through fractions of :28.1, :58.3 and 1:28.2. Clements moved his charge first-over around the final turn, and the gelding summoned up a :29.1 closing panel to win by two lengths over odds-on favourite The Land Shark in 1:58. Sass came on strong from far back to finish third.
Curtis and Amy Clements of Dobbinton, ON share ownership on the homebred son of Cornaro Dasolo-Promising Spark who won for the first time in three starts. He’s banked $11,160 to date.
Classical Son turned a two-hole trip into a 2:00 score in the final division. The son of Majestic Son-Classical Strike shadowed Frankly Speaking through fractions of :29.4, 1:00.3 and 1:29.4 before going into attack mode. The colt rolled home in :29.2 to win by a neck over race favourite Frankly Speaking. First-time starter Weight Time grabbed a third-pace finish.
Stephane Larocque trains Classical Son for Bayama Farms Inc, Brian Paquet and the breeder, Winbak Farm. It was the first win in five tries for the career winner of $9,160.
Tuesday’s program also featured the $34,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, and for the second straight start it was Whiskey Tax finding his way to victory lane for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Tom Durand. The veteran raced near the back of the back in the early going while Murmur Hanover and Riveting Rosie took turns on the lead through panels of :27 and :55.3. Whiskey Tax was sent first-over going into the last turn, and he was right beside Riveting Rosie at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1. Whiskey Tax used a :28.2 closing quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Murmur Hanover. Third went to Slip Into Glide.
It was the third win of the season – and the 12th to date – for the seven-year-old son of Revenue S-Bourbon Belle who races for Tom and June Durand along with Allan Smith. The gelding is closing in on $800,000 in career earnings.
A Canadian record was equaled earlier on the program when trotting mare Bags For All was claimed for $75,000 by owner Brad Grant of Milton, ON.
The four-year-old daughter of Swan For All-Bags Packed was entered for a claiming price of $50,000, but with her allowance she bumped her price to $75,000. The claim matched the record price spent on a trotter in the history of Canadian racing. The other trotters claimed for $75,000 were Stand Guard (Dec. 20, 2010) and First Notable Chip (January 3, 2011).
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.