Three $25,000 divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots yielded a pair of huge payoffs as Trix On You and Flanagan Sunshine returned more than $100 in their splits of the fourth leg for three-year-old trotting males on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at Woodbine Mohawk park.
Trix On You was the biggest bomber of the night, rallying from seventh to win the second division at 74-1 as the longest shot on the board. The colt took back off the gate and let the race develop in front of him with opponents going three abreast at the front into the first turn. Fast Snap (Chris Christoforou) cut the quarter in :28, but Mr Pasadena (Tyler Jones) came away with the lead before giving up command to Day (Louis-Philippe Roy) past the half in :57.3.
Trix On You was the fourth horse on the rail at three-quarters in 1:26, but rivals began to vacate the inner lane as they straightened for home, and he soared past them all to win by 2-1/4 lengths under wraps in 1:56. Tencaratgold (Trevor Henry) sprinted home to finish second but was disqualified for causing interference in the stretch. Day moved up to second and Fast Snap was promoted to third.
After missing a cheque in his first two starts, Trix On You broke his maiden for trainer Michelle Olson. The son of Trixton-Daretoberemarkable is owned Olson and breeder Roger Ferguson of Fraserville, Ont. The win price was $151.20.
Flanagan Sunshine also fired up the pylons for his longshot win, converting a pocket ride to victory in the third division. Phil Hudon planted him on the back of First Class Rule (Todd Ratchford), who produced a tempo of :27.1, :56.1, and 1:25.4. The leader came under pressure at three-quarters from favoured Lookatmegoamigo (Roy), who circled three-wide around the first-over Outbound Train (Jonathan Drury) on the final turn.
Hudon initially looked to go outside with Flanagan Sunshine before switching back inside and finding a seam, and the gelding stormed to the front in mid-stretch. Pierre In Paris (Trevor Henry) then began to charge on the outside, but Flanagan Sunshine held on to prevail by a half-length in 1:54.2. Lookatmegoamigo finished third.
Flanagan Sunshine lowered his lifetime mark as he notched his second victory of the season in 10 starts. Rene Dion trains the son of Green Manalishi S-Flanagan Lady for owner/breeder Liette Flanagan of Repentigny, Que. The gelding is now three-for-17 lifetime with $50,475 in earnings. He returned $128.90.
Nickel And Dime captured the first division in dominant fashion, taking over on the backstretch and never relenting in a 3-3/4-length win in 1:54. Travis Henry piloted the Resolve-Parkhill Nocredit gelding for trainer Mark Etsell and owners Frank Lamacchia, Tony Miceli, Deanmar Sons Stable, and Gennarino Lamacchia. Nickel And Dime paid $5.10 in his second win in 14 starts this year.
Trident Seelster ($30.90) sprung another upset on the card as he won the single division of the Pop-Up Series by a nose in 1:51.4. It was the second leg of the series for $8,000 claiming horses and geldings that are non-winners of $5,000 in their previous five starts, or that started in round one.
Wins by by Flying Art A ($66.90) in Race 8 and Parlay King ($55) in the finale made it five win payouts of more than $30 on the night.
To view Tuesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)