Makasi was a bust when he finished eighth as the even-money favourite in a conditioned event Oct. 30 at Woodbine Racetrack, but he bounced back in a big way – and a big price – on Monday evening.
Sent off at odds of 12-1, Makasi got away in good order for driver James MacDonald, who stuffed his charge into a three-hole while Preppy Art and Hurricane Beach took turns on the lead through panels of :26.4, :55 and 1:24. Makasi was on the move going to the three-quarter pole, and he used a :29.1 closing frame to win by a nose over Preppy Art in 1:53.3. D J Power was third.
Mark Steacy trains the three-year-old son of Shanghai Phil-Hazel for Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc of Hudson, QC. It was the second win of the year – and the fourth to date – for the career winner of $101,006.
Doug McNair has been posting big numbers all season long and Monday night at Woodbine Racetrack was no different for the Woodbine Entertainment Group’s leading driver.
McNair participated in eight-races on Monday’s card and posted an impressive four victories and four runner-up finishes.
The evening started off well for the Guelph , Ontario resident, as he swept the “Early-Double” with claiming pacer Four Card Major and veteran trotter Wild And Crazy Guy.
McNair would then finish second in the evening’s fourth and fifth-races before steering claiming trotter The Power Of Many to a 7-1 upset in the sixth-race.
After once again posting back-to-back runner-up finishes in races-seven and eight, McNair would pick up his “Grand Slam” victory with claiming pacer Think On It in the ninth-race to complete his successful evening.
A leading candidate for Canada ’s Driver of the Year, McNair leads all drivers on the WEG Circuit in wins and dollars this season with 254 victories and over $5 million in earnings.
Over the weekend while driving in stakes action at Hoosier Park , McNair surpassed his previous season’s best for earnings set in 2012 and Monday evening he added to that career high total by raising it to $5.9 million.
Following Monday’s card, McNair now holds a 26-win lead over nearest rival Louis Philippe Roy for top spot in the 2017 WEG driver’s standings.
(With files from WEG)
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.