Grand Circuit stakes winner Stonebridge Helios earned his first victory in more than two years, kicking off a new Pop-Up Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Sept. 19.
Driver James MacDonald sent Stonebridge Helios ($6.60) first-over near the midway mark in the first $16,000 series division and swept by even-money pacesetter Reign Supreme (Tyler Borth) in the stretch to score by two lengths in 1:51.2. He paid $6.60 to win as the 2-1 second choice. Better Sunset (Travis Henry) rounded out the top three.
The six-year-old son of Sunshine Beach-Ken Doll J is currently campaigned by trainer Paul Court and Toronto owners Jesse Dragojevic and Scott Enman.
The 1:47 pacer's last victory was on Hambletonian Day 2023 in an Open at The Meadowlands, where he had won the Graduate Series final a month prior. A 2021 O'Brien Award runner-up, Stonebridge Helios won multiple Ontario Sires Stakes as a two and three-year-old. He now has 14 career wins from 48 starts and earnings totalling $765,677.
MacDonald, Court and company swept the opening leg of the Pop-Up Series with 2-5 favourite Myultimate Snowy A flushing cover into the final turn and defeating the first-up Arties Ideal (Louis-Philippe Roy) by one length in 1:51.1. He paid $2.90 to win. Delightful Leader (Jody Jamieson) was third.
A six-year-old Australian-bred son of Sweet Lou out of The Crystal Star, Myultimate Snowy A earned his first North American victory. A winner at Menangle Park over a year ago, he hit the board in seven of his first 15 starts in North America before landing in the winner's circle. Myultimate Snowy A now has 10 career wins in 43 starts with $118,561 in total purse earnings.
This Pop-Up Series is for male pacers that started for a purse of $12,000 or less in their last three starts, with non-winners of $25,000 in a minimum of 10 starts in 2025 also eligible.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)