Trotting stars were in the spotlight Tuesday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, as the Campbellville oval hosted five OSS Gold Series divisions for the square gaiters.
Tony Soprano was a dominant winner in his $70,000 Gold Series assignment for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. John Campbell hustled the Bob McIntosh pupil to the lead from Post 1 and they never looked back. After chopping out panels of :29, :58.3 and 1:28 the homebred kicked home in :28.2 to win by 10-1/4 lengths over Dreamliner in 1:56.2. Taking home third prize was Willyorwonthe.
Sent off as the 2-5 favourite, the son of Kadabra-Windsong Soprano improved his freshman record to 3-1-2 from nine starts for the partnership of Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, Mardon Stables, Paradox Farm Inc and Dave Boyle. Purchased for $90,000 from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale, Tony Soprano has banked
Will Take Charge won the second division in blowout fashion for the tandem of driver Paul MacDonell and trainer John Bax. The gelding got away fifth before advancing first-over in the backstretch. Race favourite V Victory threw down first-half fractions of :28 and :58.4 before Will Take Charge blew by him and rolled the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:27.2. A :30-second final frame helped propel Will Take Charge to the four-length win over Mass Balance in 1:57.2. Taking home the show dough was Midnight Toker.
Bax Stable, Gordon Wright, Don Allensen and John Hayes share ownership on the son of Kadabra-Celebrity Angel who won for the first time in 10 career tries. He boasts a 1-4-1 record in addition to a bankroll of $123,590.
Dunvegan Don also celebrated a facile score in his rich assignment for driver Doug McNair. The son of Cornaro Dasolo shot to the lead from Post 4 and steamrolled through fractions of :28.3, :58 and 1:29.3 before sprinting home in :28.3 to win by 5-1/2 lengths over Nofear Blue Chip in 1:58.1. Rounding out the top three finishers was Dia Monde.
Trainer Herb Holland co-owns the three-time winner with Jim Fielding, Guy Polillo and Kevin McKinlay. The youngster has stashed away more than $85,000 in his first seven assignments.
Three-year-old trotting fillies sparred in a set of $105,000 OSS Gold Series divisions, and it was upset city in the first division thanks to the last second heroics of Second Sister and driver Rick Zeron. The Gregg McNair pupil, who was positioned in the back-half of the field through the first half of the contest, smoked home in :28.2 to defeat heavily favoured Muscle Baby Doll by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Rounding out the Triactor ticket was All That Sparkles.
The daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe-Sister Sammy, who is owned by Jarold Hawks of Jeddo, MI, won for the second time this season and for the fifth time in her career. The career winner of $202,420 has racked up a 2-4-3 record from 13 starts this season.
Elegant Serenity staved off late pressure to be a popular winner in her division in 1:55. Trainer/driver Roger Mayotte had her parked and driving at the quarter pole, but she had no problem brushing to the lead in the backstretch. Once she cleared she sliced out middle splits of :56.3 and 1:26.1 before using a :28.4 closing panel to win by half a length over Youre Majestic. Taking home third money was Danielle Hall.
Doug Millard of Woodstock, ON bred and owns the daughter of Kadabra-Elegantimage. After going winless in seven starts as a rookie and banking just over $32,000, Elegant Serenity has come back to manufacture a 6-1-2 record from 10 starts this season while stashing away more than $356,000 in the process.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.