The Ontario Sires Stakes was front and centre Monday evening Mohawk Racetrack, and the night belonged to trainer Dave Menary and driver Paul MacDonell.
Menary sent out both Gold Series winners while MacDonell clicked to win three of the five Grassroots tilts for the three-year-old trotting fillies.
Windsong Jack came into his $105,000 OSS Gold Series division with an 0-for-6 record to start the season, but more importantly he went home 1-for-7 thanks to a 1:49.4 score for driver Billy Davis, Jr. and trainer Dave Menary.
Davis got away fourth with the three-year-old son of Santanna Blue Chip-Million Dollar Smile, but he quickly rushed to the lead in the backstretch. He hit the half in :54 and fired the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:21.2 before using a :28.2 closing panel to win by two lengths over OK Fantastic in 1:49.4. Duc Dorleans was third.
Larry Menary, Kenneth Ewen, Denis Breton and Geoffrey Lyons Mound own the six-time winner who bumped his earnings to $422,486 with the win.
Tarpon Hanover gave trainer Dave Menary the Gold Series sweep thanks to his off-the-pace triumph in the second division. Jody Jamieson got away last with the son of Badlands Hanover, and they were still last at the mid-way point. Gallant Seelster, who threw down fractions of :26.1, :54.1 and 1:22.1, brought the field to the head of the lane before passing the baton to Tarpon Hanover whose :26.3 closing panel earned him the win by 3-1/2 lengths over Up Up And Out in 1:50. Blissfull Bro rounded out the top three finishers.
Brad Gray, Bruce Norris, Denis Breton and Dave Menary share ownership on the colt who improved this year’s record to 2-1-4 in nine tries. The five-time winner has racked up more than $117,154 in earnings this year while his lifetime bankroll climbed to $441,254.
Legzy, who was a 2:01.3 winner in her latest outing against OSS foes at Sudbury Downs, returned to victory lane thanks to a 1:56.4 score in the first Grassroots event for the filly trotters.
The three-year-old daughter of Amigo Hall-Sahalee was fourth at the quarter pole, but she blasted to the top in the backstretch and sliced out middle splits of :58 and 1:28 for driver Sylvain Filion before using a :30.4 closing quarter to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Dance Hall Wendy. Third prize went to Her Name Is Lola.
Rob Fellows trains the homebred, who is now a six-time winner, for Edward Wilson of Seagrave, ON and Michael Pozefsky of Saratoga Springs, NY. She’s put together a 2-0-1 record in eight tries this year, and that’s helped push her lifetime earnings to $230,950.
Moms Apple Pie was sent off as the 3-5 favourite in her $18,000 division, and she didn’t disappoint her backers. Chris Christoforou grabbed cover for the daughter of Striking Sahbra-Moms Sweetie Pie, and the Bill Budd pupil had no problem tracking down the leaders in the lane once she kicked off her cover. She won by 2-3/4 lengths over Hetties Honey in a time of 1:57. Tymal Textme was third.
Bill Dixon of Caledon, ON owns the three-time winner who improved this year’s record to 2-1-0 from nine starts with the win. The lion’s share of the purse puts her lifetime earnings at $101,300.
Wind Stroll turned a two-hole trip into an 8-1 upset in the third division for the tandem of driver Paul MacDonell and trainer Julie Walker. The filly, who was making her fourth start since moving to Walker’s barn, took the field to the quarter pole in :28.1 before releasing Orderingin to the lead. That foe led through middle splits of :58 and 1:27.2, but Wind Stroll popped out of the pocket and got up to win by a neck in 1:55.4. Race favourite Orderingin was second, with Tymal Viva finishing third.
The daughter of Muscle Mass-Southern Senorita, who is owned by Tony Holmes and Walter Zent of Lexington, KY, owns a 2-0-1 record in four starts this season. The three-time winner boosted her overall cash stash to $45,900 with the win.
I Like My Kaddy pulled off a 35-1 stunner in the fourth division, she did so in come-from-behind fashion for driver Paul MacDonell. The daughter of Kadabra-I Like Stephanie was nowhere to be found in the early stages of the mile, but she fired off cover and sprinted home in :28.1 to post the half-length win over Frisky Magic in a career-best clocking of 1:55.1. Rounding out the top three finishers was Stormont Hotplate.
Armstead Kyra gave driver Paul MacDonell his third stakes victory on the card thanks to her career-best score in 1:55.3 in the final OSS Grassroots division. The daughter of Muscle Mass-Paus Awhile, who started from the second tier in the 11-filly affair, muscled to the lead in the backstretch and supplied fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.4 before using a :28.4 closing kick to seal the deal over the 1-2 favourite, Muscle Magic. Standing My Ground grabbed the show dough.
Mike Keeling trains the homebred for owner Dr. Roly Armitage of Dunrobin, ON. The victory was her second of the season and the fourth of her career. The $9,000 payday lifted her lifetime loot to $78,864.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.