Crunchintheodds equalled the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) record for a two-year-old trotting colt on Thursday, Aug. 7 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the first of two $90,000 Gold Leg 2 events for rookie male trotters.
Another Great Mass (Trevor Henry) made an early break, leaving favourite Touchedbyanangel (Doug McNair) to cruise on the lead through fractions of :28, :56.4, and 1:25.4 with Crunchintheodds (James MacDonald) sitting comfortably in the pocket. In the stretch, Touchedbyanangel tired, and Crunchintheodds took advantage, defeating Strobe Lite (Tyler Borth) by two lengths in a career-best 1:54.2. Tavern On the Green (Louis-Philippe Roy) was third, while Touchedbyanangel and Wolverine Legend (Chris Christoforou) grabbed the final cheques. Sent off at 12-1, Crunchintheodds paid $27.30 to win.
“He did everything right,” MacDonald told Mohawk broadcaster Chad Rozema. “He was on the bit, trotted great, and I was surprised in the last turn. He was kind of chewing on Doug’s helmet and when I moved him over, he didn’t hesitate at all. He just jumped forward… I’m just really happy with how he raced and the effort he gave me.”
Crunchintheodds improved to two-for-four and increased his earnings to $61,262 for owner Glenn Dyke of Townsend, Dela. and trainer Blake MacIntosh. The Green Manalishi S-Karoon colt, bred by Susan Zammit of Hillsburgh, Ont, was purchased for $37,000 at last year’s London Classic Yearling Sale. Crunchintheodds' 1:54.2 mile tied the OSS divisional record set by Willowtime in 2023.
In the second division, Mike Me Up and Roy cut the mile in a career-best 1:55. The son of Muscle Mass out of Meghan C put up fractions of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.3 to win by three-quarters of a length over The Green Gazoo (Bob McClure) and D A Masstermind (Christoforou). Favourite First Class Mass (MacDonald) finished fourth, followed by In The Black (Jody Jamieson). Mike Me Up was sent off at 6-1 and paid $14.30.
Trainer Kyle Fellows said he wasn’t sure if the front end would be Mike Me Up’s best trip.
“We raced two on the front end earlier and they both slowed down and stopped at the end of the mile,” Fellows said. “We’ve scoped them and they’re both a little sick. So, when this one was on the front end I was thinking, ‘Is this happening again?’ But he held on. He raced really tough. That’s a good record for him.”
Mike Me Up was bred by Tara Hills Stud of Port Perry, Ont. and Glenn Bechtel of Kingston, Ont. He was purchased for $23,611 at the 2024 Harrisburg sale by Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood, Ont., Erna and Blair Corbeil of Leduc, Alta., and Mike McAllister of Beaumont, Alta. The colt is now 2-1-1 in four career starts and has earnings of $64,500.
That makes four different winners in four Gold events in the two-year-old trotting colt division. In The Black won the first Gold event in the division on July 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and Another Great Mass won the sole second-leg dash.
Later on the card, Jay completed a sweep of the Whenuwishuponastar as she captured the $79,500 final for two-year-old pacing fillies with an authoritative front-end performance. She was fastest off the gate for McClure but gave up command to Twin B Fierce (McNair) entering the first turn, then re-took after the quarter in :26.4. Jay rolled to the half in :56 but was forced to pick up speed as Adina Hanover (Roy) went on the march approaching three-quarters in 1:24.3. Jay repelled Adina Hanover down the stretch and held off Twin B Fierce by a neck under measured handling from McClure to score in a lifetime-best 1:51.4. Adina Hanover took the show cheque.
Jay swept the Whenuwishuponastar after making her first two starts in the OSS Gold series for trainer Dr. Ian Moore. The daughter of Cattlewash-Jan is now three-for-five and has earned $76,606 for owners Wilma and James Mackenzie of Ennismore, Ont. and Paul Chapman of Oakville, Ont. The $95,000 London Classic Yearling Sale purchase paid $3.20 to win.
There were also two second-leg Pop-Up Series divisions, won by Pretty Missy May ($46.60) and First Filly Chip ($2.20), who was claimed for the second time in two starts. The series is for $8,000 claiming fillies and mares that are non-winners of $5,000 in their last five starts (with allowances for age) or that started in the first leg.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Ontario Racing & Standardbred Canada)