Freshman trotting colts and geldings met for the fourth leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots in four $20,000 divisions at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday evening, Sept. 3 and Cousin Halifax stopped the clock in the swiftest time for his second straight career win.
Returning off a win in a two-year-old conditioned trot two weeks ago, Cousin Halifax was ready to storm the field again with Trevor Henry in the bike for trainer David Menary.
Cousin Halifax left from the gate in post four among a couple of heavy leavers at each of his sides. The gelding bypassed them both to take command from the outside at the quarter in :28.4 and settled into the front along the pylons after that mark. The heavily backed favourite raced uncontested through the :58.4 half and felt the presence of his foes en route to the three-quarters in 1:28.1. However, Cousin Halifax brushed them all off and continued home to win by a length in 1:56. Day (Louis-Philippe Roy) closed sharply and grabbed second while Captain Suzuki (Sylvain Filion) finished third.
W J Donovan owns the freshman gelded son of Trixton out of the Donato Hanover mare Ms Mischief Maker. Cousin Halifax moved his career record to 2-2-0 in four starts with the new career mark.
Hay Dad and Bob McClure took the first division from post eight for trainer Mark Etsell. The Muscle Mass-Hay Darlene gelding never found an anxious moment, leaving for the front and controlling the timer in splits in :29.1, 1:00.4 and 1:30.1. Pocket-sitting Cleveland Royalty (Tyler Borth) made a swift charge in the stretch, but Hay Dad prevailed at the wire by a half length in 1:59.1. Royal Life (Trevor Henry) completed the triactor.
Terry Devos, Peter Porter and James Whelan bred and co-own the freshman trotter, who earned his second career win -- both in Grassroots action -- in five starts. He paid $3.20 to win as the bettors' choice.
In race four's OSS Grassroots division, Stmikes Kerryblues (Sylvain Filion) was second at the opening quarter in :28.3, but quickly took command and never looked back. He ran off the screen through panels in :58.3 and 1:27.2 before easing home to a 2-3/4-length victory in 1:57.3 over Gucci Gucci Goo (Jonathan Drury) and Gaslight Hall (James MacDonald).
The Green Manalishi S-Wilsonator colt is trained by Kyle Fellows for Yolanda Fellows and Edward and Beverle Wilson. He won his first race from eight starts. He returned $11.20 to win at 5-1 odds.
First Class Rule and driver Todd Ratchford rounded out the series action with a gate-to-wire triumph, leading through fractions of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:29.1 before cruising home 1-1/2 lengths on top in 1:58.2. Getthegreen (Roger Mayotte) finished second with The Time Machine (Drury) third.
Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, Gaelic Stable and Ronald Van Noort co-own the freshman Muscle Mass-Ruling Class colt. Trained by Matt Bax, First Class Rule recorded his first career win in six starts. He paid $8.70 as the 3-1 bettors' choice.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)