The undercard of Canada's richest night of racing featured some of Woodbine Mohawk Park's top older competitors facing off in $40,000 Opens on the trot and on the pace.
A field of six in the $40,000 Open Trot was reduced to five with the scratch of Fashion Frenzie. Leaving from the inside, Logan Park went postward as the 3-5 choice. Driver Doug McNair got away in third early as Osceola (Trevor Henry) made the early speed through a sensible :27.1 first quarter. That tempo slowed too much for McNair, who right-lined Logan Park from third to take over and front the field through a :56.2 half.
Second choice Gaines Hanover (Sylvain Filion) made his move up on the rim but quickly shifted to the three path over as Osceola popped the pocket before the 1:26 third station. A sprint to the wire loomed, and Logan Park outsprinted his rivals with a :27 final quarter for the 1:53 decision. Gaines Hanover finished a half-length back in second with Osceola holding off Pemberton (Bob McClure) for show dough.
Kyle Fellows trains Logan Park (Archangel - Rite Outa The Park) for Outofthepark Stable of Rockwood, Ont., Reg Higgs of Ilderton, Ont. and Arpad Szabo of Bradford, Ont. The six-year-old gelding sports a 8-2-2 record from 13 starts this season, picking up a cheque in all 13 of his starts thus far. In fact, his worst finish this year was a fourth in his most recent start his most recent start — the 2024 MGM International Trot at Yonkers Raceway earlier this year. And that fourth-place finish provided a $108,108 payday, which is the largest single race haul in the trotter's 76-race career. The $20,000 score in Saturday's Open Trot lifts his career bankroll to $1,485,552.
Logan Park returned $3.50 to win.
The undercard for Canada's richest night of harness racing also featured a $40,000 Open Handicap Pace. A solid field of nine faced the starting gate in this one, with outermost starter and 3-1 second choice Fortify flying off the gate for driver Scott Zeron. Last week's Preferred winner set a sizzling early tempo in this one, with a :25.2 opener followed by a :53.1 half.
It was here that Brett MacDonald asked Saulsbrook Victor to vacate the three hole and start a bid for the lead. Saulsbrook Victor got up to near even terms with Fortify through a 1:20.4 third station and then started to pull away from that rival when they hit the head of the lane.
Taurasi (Doug McNair) and Dragononthebeach (Todd McCarthy) showed strong late kick, but couldn't catch Saulsbrook Victor on this day. MacDonald kept his contender to task, and Saulsbrook Victor responded with a career best 1:48.1 mile. Taurasi and Dragononthebeach followed across the wire in that order.
Owned by his driver and Brent MacLennan of Charlottetown, P.E.I., Saulsbrook Victor (Source Of Pride - Atlanta Girl) is trained by Brett's father, Ron MacDonald. Canada's fastest ever qualifier, Saulsbrook Victor (pictured above) picked up his 25th win lifetime and boosted his bankroll to $571,885 in the process. At 11-1 odds, he returned $25.40 on a $2 win wager.
After setting a Canadian record with his 1:49.1 qualifying mile at Grand River at the start of the month, Saulsbrook Victor's 1:48.1 mile on Saturday makes him the fastest Maritime-bred performer, eclipsing the 1:48.4 mark of Woodmere Stealdeal.
For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)