Stars of the Ontario Sires Stakes program were in the spotlight Thursday evening at Mohawk Racetrack as the Campbellville oval hosted seven divisions – two Gold Series tilts for three-year-old pacing fillies and five Grassroots affairs for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Racey Miss came through as the 3-5 favourite in her $105,000 assignment for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Mark Steacy, though there were some anxious moments for the filly in the back-half of the mile. She rushed to the lead from Post 6, but came under heavy pressure from Regil Elektra in the backstretch. Regil Elektra was allowed to clear, but she came under attack from Best Impressions around the final turn.
Those two battled to the three-quarter pole in 1:23, and the tussle continued for a good portion of the stretch drive before Best Impressions backed away. Racey Miss, who was biding her time while locked in the pocket, found clearance and used a :28.2 closing panel to post the neck decision over a dead game Regil Elektra in 1:51.3. Best Impressions weakened late, but still managed to hold on for third.
It was the eighth win of the season in 12 tries for the daughter of Shanghai Phil-Racey Date. The $52,500 payday boosted the filly’s lifetime earnings to $184,498. The homebred is owned by Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc of Hudson, QC.
Request For Parole played the role of ‘Giant Killer’ in the second division thanks to her startling upset over the 1-5 favourite, Love Canal. Jan It Jackson sprinted to the lead and threw down first-half panels of :26.3 and :55.3 before being pressed to the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 by the first-over Love Canal. Jack It Jackson brought the field into the lane before tiring, and Love Canal wasn’t strong enough to fend off the late-rushing Request For Parole, who kicked off the favourite’s cover and drew clear to win by a length over Love Canal in 1:52. Leaveumlady was third.
Rick Zeron mapped out the trip for the Normand Bardier, Jr.-trained daughter of Badlands Hanover-Give Me Life, who returned $98.20 to her backers and banked a handsome payday for owner Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, QC. In fact, her share of the loot more than doubled her lifetime earnings. She’s banked $97,320 to date.
There was plenty of speed served up by the freshmen pacing colts and geldings in their Grassroots divisions, including the 1:53.4 performance turned in by V I P Bayama in his assignment. The son of Mach Three-Lucky Josie got away third for driver Sylvain Filion before taking charge in the second quarter. He sped through middle splits of :56.3 and 1:25.3 before using a :28.1 closing quarter to seal the deal by a length. Regal Babe was next best, with Rural Art finishing third.
Sent off as the 3-5 favourite, the Stephane Larocque pupil improved his rookie record to 3-1-1 from eight tries. The Bayama Farms Inc’s homebred has banked more than $30,000 in the process.
Lucky King was a handy winner in his $18,000 tilt, but he had some help from a speed-crazy leader. Cheeky Fool and Vital Bliss battled to the quarter in :27.1, but Lucky King was hot on their heels and he became the leader going into the backstretch. He came under huge pressure from a charged up New Patrol who muscled to the top and hit the half in :54.2. Lucky King opted to loop that front-stepping foe around the final turn, and he wound up going on to win by 1-3/4 lengths over race favourite Prince Clyde in 1:52.2. Rather Swell finished third.
James MacDonald guided the Andrew McCabe-trained son of Camluck-Red Carpet Queen to his third win of the season from nine trips to the track. Glenview Livestock Ltd of Guelph-Eramosa and Len Christopher of Acton, ON share ownership on the career winner of $34,512.
Big Green Tractor fooled a lot of handicappers thanks to his 15-1 upset in the third division. The son of Mister Big-My Basha got away eighth and found himself still sitting eighth through first-half fractions of :27 and :55.3. Brodys Scrapper made a bold move to the lead in the backstretch, and he opened up a big lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:23. That quarter soon caught up with him, however, and so did Big Green Tractor who only needed a :29.4 closing quarter to propel himself to the 1:54.2 score. Italian Rebel was 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner, while Brodys Scrapper had to settle for third.
Billy Davis, Jr. guided the Ben Wallace student to the career-best performance, and in doing so the colt got his picture taken for the second time in six tries. Spring Haven Farm of Utica, OH bred and own the winner of $13,340.
OK Gladiator was a maiden-breaking winner in his $18,000 for the tandem of driver Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair. The son of Mach Three-Erin Kay survived a first-over journey to win the nine-horse affair in 1:53.4. Sent off at odds of 4-1, the colt defeated Major Homer and Pop Pop Joe.
Gregg McNair shares ownership on the career winner of $21,920 with Len Gamble of Etobicoke, ON and Wayne Mac Rae of Fall River, NS.
Concert Artist showed no mercy to the foes he faced in the final OSS Grassroots division. The son of Artistic Fella-Western Concert toted a 3-for-5 record into the tilt, and he went home 4-for-6 thanks to his 1:53 triumph. It was 5-1/2 lengths back to runner-up Shadow Place, with third prize going to Royal Ashton.
Paul MacKenzie manufactured the winning trip for the Emerald Highlands Farm’s homebred. Tony O’Sullivan trains the winner of $26,142.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.