Taurasi didn't have a familiar set of hands at the controls for his Preferred Pace assignment on Saturday, Aug. 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but the prolific pacer didn't mind the replacement secured by his connections.
With regular pilot Doug McNair at Vernon Downs driving in New York Sire Stakes action, Dexter Dunn got the call aboard Taurasi on this occasion. The public preferred the chances of stateside invader Oakwood Ardan IR, in town likely prepping for a possible appearance in the upcoming eliminations for the Canadian Pacing Derby.
Scratched down to a field of seven, the majority of the money supported 4-5 Oakwood Ardan IR, with Taurasi at even money. Those two factored as the top two finishers, but not in the order punters predicted.
Dunn hustled Taurasi from post two and landed him in second behind Stockade Seelster through a :27.1 opening quarter. As the field straightened out, Dunn looped around Stockade Seelster and landed Taurasi on top. After hitting the half in :54.3, Dunn asked Taurasi to hit the afterburners and the pacer responded with a :26.1 quarter to hit the third station in 1:20.4 with a seven-length lead. He cruised wrapped-up down the stretch and tripped the timer in a seasonal best 1:48.2. Oakwood Ardan closed well to be second for driver James MacDonald, 1-1/2 lengths back, with Jabberwocky (Trevor Henry) rounding out the top trio.
Taurasi (Racing Hill - Voluminous) is trained by Gregg McNair for Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. and Alagna Racing LLC of Jackson, N.J. The win, his 11th of the year, gives Taurasi 23 tallies in his career with earnings totalling $657,346.
Saturday's card of harness racing also featured the third leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series for two-year-old filly pacers.
Tricky Wicky ($3.00) rode the pocket until the stretch, when Jody Jamieson tugged on the right line and the 1-2 favourite responded with ample pace to collar tempo-setter Wicked Road (Phil Hudon) and repel Odds On Fiat Money for the 1:54.2 score. Tricky Wicky (McWicked - Dobre Povedane) is trained by Rene Dion for breeder-owners Dave & John Prushnok of Indiana, Penn.
Jamieson doubled in Grassroots action, guiding Wicked Cruizer ($7.70) to a confident first-over score in the second division. Trained by Gabby Sasso, Wicked Cruizer (McWicked - Cruzin Tothe Dance) notched her first career victory, winning in 1:53 for Jeffrey Courchesne of Cambridge, Martwest Racing LP of Mississauga and Tony Aarts of Putnam, Ont.
After a three-for-three start to her career stateside, Pick Me Up Hanover ($2.60) remains perfect in four appearances after winning her Ontario Sires Stakes debut in 1:54. Jeff Byron trains the daughter of Bettors Delight - Plaudit Hanover for David Byron of Thornton, Ont. and Craig Wallwin of Barrie, Ont.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)