Twenty-three sophomores squared off in Monday’s opening leg of the Tie Silk Series, with three divisions contested by trotting colts and geldings at Mohawk Racetrack.
Great Magic, who was sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, was a front-stepping winner in his $15,000 assignment in a time of 1:58.2. The son Kadabra-Dream Again laid down panels of :29.3, :59.2 and 1:28.3 for driver Trevor Henry before finishing off his mile – and his foes – with a final quarter clocked in :29.4. Guscrest rallied from last to finish second, with third prize going to Amityville Lindy.
Paul Reid trains the colt for owner Robert Key of Leechburg, Pennsylvania. After going 0-for-2 as a rookie, the trotter has posted a 5-2-1 record from 10 starts to kick off his 2015 campaign. The youngster has banked $44,309 to date.
Tarot played ‘give and go’ with Arrakis before powering away from the competition in a sharp time of 1:56.4. Randy Waples cut the quarter in :28.4 with the gelding, before briefly giving way to Arrakis in the backstretch. Tarot released that foe before quickly coming right back around to reclaim command. They sliced out middle splits of :57.4 and 1:26.2 before cruising home in :30.2 for the two-length triumph. Hemi Seelster was the best of the rest, with third prize going to In Secret.
Sent off as the 7-5 favourite, the Dave Tyrrell-trained son of Taurus Dream-Catch Dream improved this season’s record to 5-1-1 from nine tries with the win. Michael Casalino, Jr. of Freehold, New Jersey owns the gelding who went 0-for-11 last season. The lion’s share of Monday’s loot lifted the trotter’s cash stash to $58,800.
Covert Operative gave Randy Waples back-to-back wins on the card thanks to his 1:59.2 triumph in the third – and final – division. The heavily-favoured son of Deweycheatumnhowe-Serenas Genie sat third while Duh Bubbees supplied first-half fractions of :30.2 and 1:00.3. Waples had his charge on the move at the half and pressed Duh Bubbees to the three-quarter pole in 1:29.3. Covert Operative used a :29.3 closing panel to draw clear by a length over Duh Bubbees, with Its Huw You Know closing late to finish third.
Per Henriksen trains the gelding for Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc of Lakefield Gord, Quebec and ASA Farm of Norwood, Ontario. The victory was his third of the season, and his share of the $15,000 purse boosted his overall bankroll to $32,650.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.