If you love trotters, then Mohawk Racetrack was the place to be on Monday evening. The Campbellville oval hosted a quartet of OSS tilts for the square gaiters in addition to this week’s edition of the Preferred Trot.
Muscle Matters rallied to a career-best 1:57.3 score for Team Baillargeon in the $150,000 OSS Mid-Summer Challenge for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The son of Muscle Mass-Sister Mary Lindy, in rein to Mario Baillargeon, got away fourth while Special Agent Man and Utopia battled to the quarter pole in a :29-second clip. Tothepointe James worked his way to the lead at the half in :58.3, and hot on his heels was Muscle Matters.
Baillargeon took over the lead with the colt at the three-quarter station in 1:27.1, and the youngster only needed a :30.2 closing panel to win by half a length over race favourite See The Wind. Jitterbug finished third.
Discarded by many at odds of 9-1, Muscle Matters improved his rookie record to 2-0-0 from just three trips postward with the win. Trainer Ben Baillargeon co-owns the freshman with Richard Thompson and the Vena brothers – Nunzio and Santo. The colt has banked $98,800 to date.
Riveting Rosie was a handy winner for the tandem of driver Paul MacDonell and trainer John Bax in the $150,000 OSS Mid-Summer Challenge for two-year-old trotting fillies.
The daughter of Muscle Mass-Rose De Vie Stena floated off the gate and tucked into third while Marcella Hall roared to the lead from Post 10 and supplied the field with an opening quarter of :28.3. Danica Hall rushed to the front in the backstretch and she hit the half in :58.3 before trotting by the three-quarter marker in 1:28.2.
Riveting Rose improved to second around the final turn when Marcella Hall started to tire, but MacDonell angled her back to the outside as the field entered the lane. Riveting Rosie uncorked a :28.3 closing quarter, and that was more than enough to earn her the win by 2-3/4 lengths over Miss Aultsville. Danica Hall faded late and settled for third prize.
John Bax trains the filly, who was sent off at odds of 3-1, for Parkhill Stud Farm, Don Allensen, J And T Stable Newmarket and John Hayes. The win improved her record to 2-1-0 from three starts and the $75,000 payday helped her lifetime earnings swell to $106,500.
Margie captured the $50,000 OSS Mid-Summer Challenge Consolation for driver Paul MacDonell, who guided the Mike Keeling-trained miss to the 1:57.4 score.
The daughter of Angus Hall-Armbro Blusher got away second, but she quarter pole-moved to the lead in the backstretch and after knifing out middle splits of :58.2 and 1:28.2 she stormed home in :29.2 to post the win by 1-1/4 lengths. Mayberry came on late to grab the runner-up award, with Toughs Legacy rounding out the top three finishers.
Sent off as the 7-5 favourite, Margie posted the maiden-breaking win for partners Paul Fontaine, Jim Winske, Michael Winters and George Ducharme. The filly, who now boasts a 1-1-1 record from her first three trips postward, has potted more than $40,000 in earnings.
Dontcheatonmenow closed from out of the clouds to win the $50,000 OSS Mid-Summer Challenge for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, and he did so as a 21-1 upsetter for the duo of driver Randy Waples and trainer Tom Durand.
The son of Deweycheatumnhowe-Magenta Hall got away ninth from Post 9 while Patriots Path and Global Reality S, who both made breaks later in the mile, led the field through first-half fractions of :28.3 and :57.3. SAS Warkentin took over command in the third quarter, and she was on top by 3-1/2 lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:27. She opened up by four lengths at the top of the stretch before bearing out badly and allowing Dontcheatonmenow to drop inside of her and post the win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.4. Valorscross closed up late to finish second, while SAS Warkentin faded to finish third.
Tom Durand of Puslinch and Allan Smith of Oakville, ON share ownership on the maiden-breaking winner, who improved his overall record to 1-1-1 from four trips to the track. He’s managed to bank $39,500 along the way.
E W Fisher was a front-stepping winner in the $34,000 Preferred Trot for trainer/driver Rick Zeron, who watched the speedy homebred halt the teletimer in 1:52.4.
E W Fisher shot to the top from Post 6 and led through intervals of :28.1, :56.4 and 1:24.4 before cruising home in a :28-second clip to defeat Watkins and race favourite Appomattox.
The six-year-old son of Fool Me Not-La Delicatesse, who is owned by Lise Lang of Port Perry, ON and Saul Mendelson of Montreal, QC, won for the fifth time this season and for the 16th time in his career. The $17,000 payday bumped the gelding’s cash stash to $258,430.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.