Fans were treated to six Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Victoria Day at Mohawk Racetrack, and it turned out to be a big night for the fans that stayed away from the betting favourites
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Amigo Ranger pulled off a 30-1 shocker in the opening division when he rallied for a 1:57 score for trainer/driver Wayne MacLean. The son of Amigo Hall-Armbro Aperitif shot to the lead and had the field lined up behind him at the quarter in :28.1 before giving way in the backstretch to Pocket Passer, who went on to post middle splits of :58.2 and 1:28.1. MacLean found clearance in the lane with Amigo Ranger, and the colt rallied to win by a length over Oaklea Uptown. Race favourite P L Fantastic came on late to finish third.
Gerry and Brenda Gauthier of Azilda, ON own the second-time starter, who made a break and finished off-the-board in his pari-mutuel debut at Woodbine Racetrack on May 14.
Victim Of Changes was treated to a ground-saving trip in the second division, and the son of Kadabra-Speed Mirror used it to manufacture an 11-1 upset for driver Scott Zeron. Zeron got away in the pocket spot behind Magical Victory who threw down an opening quarter in :28. Zeron brushed his charge to the top in the backstretch before giving way to race favourite O U Sexy Guy just before the mid-way point in :58.2. They held those positions at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.2 before Victim Of Changes popped off the rail and sprinted to the wire for the win in 1:57. O U Sexy Guys was second best, with Six Bax coming on to finish third.
Bernie Noren of Guelph, ON owns and trains the maiden-breaking winner, who started his career 0-for-8. The $6,000 purchase from the 2010 Harrisburg Yearling Sale has banked just over $40,000 to date.
Knows Nothing is now undefeated in four career starts thanks to his 1:56.3 triumph in the third division. The son of Kadabra-Savvy Yankee was forced to overcome Post 10 for driver Jody Jamieson, who watched race favourite Coe Leader dictate the terms of tempo through panels of :27.3, :58.2 and 1:28.2. Knows Nothing, who was third over turning for home, capitalized on a break by Coe Leader at the head of the lane. Knows Nothing used a :27.1 final frame to win by half a length over R Raiser Emotions. Third prize went to Southwind Nazareth.
Jeff Gillis conditions the lightly-raced youngster, who was unraced as a rookie. The colt is owned by Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz, Mac Nichol and J Gillis G Stay. The lion’s share of the $24,000 purse bumped the trotter’s cash stash to $61,000.
Northern Victory earned a new lifetime mark of 1:57 thanks to his front-stepping score in the fourth division for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Rod Zeron. Filion got away third with the son of Amigo Hall-Yankee Nugget before brushing the colt to the top as the field entered the backstretch. He was allowed to slice out middle fractions of :59 and 1:28.2, and he used a :28.3 closing quarter to fend off Canadian Wildcat by a length. Cool Creek Magic grabbed the show dough.
Robert Montgomery of Carp, ON owns the productive trotter, who put together an impressive 3-3-0 record from 10 starts as a rookie. Monday’s victory gives him a 2-1-0 record in five starts this season. He’s
Mikey Hanover finally gave the favourite-playing pundits something to smile about when he turned in a 1:55.1 triumph as the 3-5 choice for trainer/driver Mark Steacy. The son of Majestic Son-Minky Hanover enjoyed a two-hole trip to the quarter pole before sprinting to the top in the backstretch. He proceeded to knife out fractions of :56.3 and 1:26 before using :29.1 speed to out-kick Touchdown Toss to the finish. That foe was a neck behind the winner, with Cradabra finishing a distant third.
The victory was the third of the season in four tries for Mikey Hanover, who races for Steacy, David Reid, David MacDonald and the Bridle Path Stables. The four-time winner has earned more than $61,000 in his career.
Our Mojo turned a ground-saving trip into a maiden-breaking win in 1:57.4 for the tandem of driver Mike Saftic and trainer Mike Keeling. The son of Kadabra-Got Sno Socks watched race favourite The Only One lay down fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:27.1 before trotting past that breaking foe in the lane. Our Mojo used a :30.2 kicker to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Windsong Illusion, with Duke Of Vegas earning the show dough.
The Caveator Stable of Hamilton, ON owns the career winner of $27,300. He has put together a 1-1-3 record from 10 lifetime starts.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.