Mach Set Go Upsets OSS Leader

Published: August 26, 2013 11:54 pm EDT

Mach Set Go played the role of giant killer at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening, cutting three-year-old pacing colt division leader Champagne Phil’s win streak off at four.

Mohawk fans had faith in Champagne Phil, sending him off as their top choice in the first $18,000 Grassroots division, but they were also extremely interested in Mach Set Go, making his first start for trainer Anthony Montini. Starting from Post 1, Mach Set Go and driver Keith Oliver heightened the interest when they went straight after the lead, reaching the quarter pole in :26.3.

Mach Set Go and Oliver remained in complete control for the remainder of the mile, sailing through fractions of :54.3 and 1:22 on their way to a one and three-quarter length triumph in a personal best 1:51. D Gs Camme closed well to finish second, leaving Champagne Phil to settle for third.

The win was Mach Set Go’s first in Grassroots action this season and bumped him from eighteenth to sixth in the point standings. The Mach Three colt is owned by Holland Racing Stable of Aurora and Albina Montini of Acton, who acquired him on Aug. 20 from Sophie Bourgeois’ 9174 7998 Quebec Inc.

Sea Harrier also scored a bit of an upset in the second split, sprinting home to a half-length decision over Southwind Amazon and Stonebridge Adam.

The 1:51.2 clocking, a personal best for the Jeremes Jet son, served as redemption for Sea Harrier’s Aug. 16 Grassroots start at Grand River Raceway where he made an early break and finished at the back of the pack.

Driver James MacDonald of Guelph shares ownership of Sea Harrier with Floyd Marshall of Jarvis and Peter Porter of Port Dover, and Benjamin Paquette conditions the gelding. The win was the pacer’s second in Grassroots action at the Mohawk oval and bumped him up to fourth in the point race with 131.

The final Grassroots battle was the only one in which the favourite prevailed. Dull Roar and Jack Moiseyev sprinted home to a two and one-quarter length triumph in 1:51, besting Lyonsparkhavenlake and Sea Harrier’s stablemate Pointsman.

Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh conditions Dull Roar for his partners Ken Henwood of Vaughan, Mac Nichol of Burlington and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, NY. Through five Grassroots starts the Mach Three colt has two wins and three seconds, putting him in second spot in the standings, hot on the heels of Champagne Phil.

The three-year-old pacing colts will wrap up their Grassroots season at Clinton Raceway on Sept. 8.

Mohawk Racetrack’s action-packed Ontario Sires Stakes schedule continues on Labour Day Monday, Sept. 2 with the second last Grassroots event for the two-year-old pacing fillies.

For complete results please click the following link: Monday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.

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