Murmur Hanover, Majestized and Flanagan Memory were too tough for the competition to handle in the trio of OSS Gold Series eliminations for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings Thursday at Mohawk Racetrack.
Team Baillargeon clicked with Murmur Hanover in the first $40,000 elimination, and he did so in a career-best clocking of 1:57. Mario Baillargeon hustled the son of Majestic Son-Mrs Ronerail to the early lead, and they led the field past the quarter pole in :28.4. Kinetic King took over command at the mid-way point in :58.4, and he proceeded to lead the trotters to the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3 before giving way. Murmur Hanover was sent back to the outside, and he used a :29.1 kicker to win by 4-1/4 lengths over Its Payday Friday. Filthy Paddy rounded out the top three finishers.
Ben Baillargeon trains the colt for R Berthiaume Inc of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, QC. Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Murmur Hanover notched his third victory from his first four trips behind the starting gate. The $70,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale has racked up more than $108,000 in earnings.
Majestized also took home a new lifetime mark thanks to his 1:57.4 tally in the second elimination. Jack Moiseyev mapped out the come-from-behind score with the son of Majestic Son-Digitized, who watched The Manipulator and Third Pat takes turns on the lead through fractions of :29.1, :59 and 1:28.1. Moiseyev summoned up a :29.1 closing quarter from his colt, and that allowed Majestized to draw clear by 1-1/2 lengths over runner-up Ark Went In. Gotta Secret, who was sent off at odds of 1-5, was third.
Johnny and Kimberley Waite of Camden, DE share ownership on the two-time winner, who now boasts a bankroll of $50,000. The colt was a $10,500 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Flanagan Memory was treated to a ground-saving journey in the final elimination, and as a result he had more than enough late speed to post a maiden-breaking victory for trainer Rene Dion. Sylvain Filion watched Schoolhouse Rock and race favourite and recent Gold Series winner, Creampuff Macdaddy, enjoy stints on the lead through fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:27 before going on the attack. Flanagan Memory fired home in :29.3 to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Schoolhouse Rock in 1:57. Creampuff Macdaddy was third best in the 10-horse affair.
Sent off at odds of 5-1, the homebred got the job done for partners Liette Flanagan of Repentigny and Rene Dion of Saint-Lazare, QC. Flanagan Memory has banked $23,200 to date.
The top three finishers from each elimination plus one of the fourth-place finishers, drawn by lot, will return to Mohawk Racetrack next Thursday for the rich final. Here’s how they’ll line up behind the starting gate in that tilt:
$130,000 OSS Gold Series Final
1. Alexander Lukas
2. Majestized
3. Its Payday Friday
4. Gotta Secret
5. Ark Went In
6. Murmur Hanover
7. Creampuff Macdaddy
8. Filthy Paddy
9. Schoolhouse Rock
10. Flanagan Memory
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.