Balmy temperatures set the stage for fast miles at Woodbine Mohawk Park during the Campbellville oval’s Civic Holiday celebration Saturday Aug. 4, with Jimmy Freight winning in 1:48.3 while collecting his fourth-straight Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series Victory.
Launching from post six in the second $96,400 Gold division, Jimmy Freight took command before the :26.1 quarter and driver Louis-Philippe Roy opted to maintain the sharp pace through a :54.1 half and 1:21.3 three-quarters. Turning for home just over two lengths on top, Jimmy Freight opened up a three-and-three-quarter length margin on pocket-sitter Backstreet Shadow by the 1:48.3 finish. The Downtown Bus was four more lengths back in third.
“The only thing I didn’t like with Backstreet Shadow, Doug’s [McNair] horse, being on my back is that that horse can be really quick,” Roy said after the race. “So I just wanted to make sure we didn’t turn it into a sprint for the last quarter because I think that horse, for a quarter or an eighth, can be as fast as Jimmy. The only thing, I don’t think for now he can handle; he can’t carry that speed.
“All of these horses, most of them can come a :26 last quarter, just the same as Jimmy, so if he is too far [back] going into the last turn, I think that is the only way he can get beat."
Jimmy Freight will make his next start against some of the top colts in North America in the Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park next Saturday, Aug. 11, and the Sportswriter son will be looking to improve on the fourth-place finish he posted in the July 14 Meadowlands Pace.
“Jimmy is leaving Tuesday morning, going to Andrew Harris for the Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park Saturday,” said trainer Richard Moreau. “We are hoping for a good post, fingers crossed.”
Adriano Sorella of Milton, Ontario owns Jimmy Freight, who has posted seven wins, one second, two thirds and one fourth in 11 starts this season, banking $306,639. With his flawless record of four wins in four Gold Series starts the colt also has a commanding 200 points in the division standings.
The first Gold division was captured by St Lads Neptune, making his first visit to the winner’s circle since the season opener at Flamboro Downs on May 20.
Starting from post five, St Lads Neptune and driver Jody Jamieson landed in third behind early pacesetter When You Dance. The pair remained on the rail through the :28.2 quarter, :56 half and 1:23 three-quarters. But when space opened up behind the dueling leaders in the stretch, Jamieson fired the favourite into an open lane and St Lads Neptune sprinted to a one-and-one-half length victory in a personal-best 1:50.3. Yacht Seelster finished second and When You Dance third.
“I’m ecstatic,” said driver Jamieson, who shares ownership of St Lads Neptune with his father Carl Jamieson of Rockwood and Menary Racing Inc. of Rockton, Ontario. “He responded well after a tough trip to, and at Ottawa two weeks ago — he scoped sick with a guttural pouch infection and pimples and the lot. After being treated with antibiotics for over a week we couldn’t train him like we would have normally, so we were concerned about his fitness.
“That’s one of the reasons I was hesitant to move him tonight, even as the betting favourite. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good, and lately I’ve need to be quite lucky.”
The win brings the Mach Three son’s sophomore record to two wins and three seconds in eight starts for earnings of $149,020. With a total of 130 Gold Series points, St Lads Neptune sits second in the division standings. The top 10 point earners following the fifth Gold leg, at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Sept. 1, will advance to the season ending Super Final.
Next on Woodbine Mohawk Park’s Ontario Sires Stakes calendar is the third Grassroots event for the two-year-old trotting fillies on Tuesday, Aug. 7. The fillies will compete in races 2, 6, and 8 on the 7:30 p.m. program.
Rockin In Heaven powered from the back of the pack to nail pacesetter Dr J Hanover and pocket-sitter Te Kawau N at the line in 1:49.4 to win at 13-1 in the $34,000 Preferred Pace.
Dr J Hanover took control and led through a :26.4 opening quarter with Te Kawau N following in the pocket. By the half in :55.2, Dr J Hanover continued unchallenged on the lead despite Traceur Hanover pulling first over. Rockin In Heaven, placed fourth over, sat eight lengths off the lead while Dr J Hanover paced to three-quarters in 1:23. J Harris kicked the horse off cover into the stretch and reeled in the top two gradually to the line, sticking a half length in front at the finish with Te Kawau N taking second from favourite Dr J Hanover in third.
A six-year-old stallion by Rock N Roll Heaven from the Jennas Beach Boy mare Tropics Beachgirl, Rockin In Heaven won his fourth race in 17 starts this season and his 24th in 98 overall, earning $715,201. J Harris piloted the $29.90 winner for trainer Teesha Symes, who conditions the pacer for owners Douglas Polley and Gordon McComb.
Trainer Carmen Auciello collected a natural hat trick on the program. He sent Jins Shark ($4.50) to win from off the pace in 1:50.1 in a $20,000 conditioned pace, following that with a 1:49.2 wire-to-wire victory with Always A Hotshot ($3.40) in a $24,000 conditioned pace and completed it with Imsporty ($11.60) soaring from off the pace to win a $15,000 conditioned pace in 1:51.1.
(With files from the Ontario Sires Stakes)
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.