T H Mcmurry and Chain Gang each recorded their first career victories in the two divisions of the $103,100 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, the first leg for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, contested on Monday (July 10) evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
T H Mcmurry posted the faster of the two times in the evening's feature races.
McNair and the David Menary trainee got away third behind a parked out Chivalry Seelster (Jody Jamieson) and Geishas Treasure (Trevor Henry) on the rail. The opening panel was clocked in :27.3 before Chivalry Seelster settled into second between the leader and T H Mcmurry. T H Mcmurry took over the lead at the half in :56.1 and kept on going. He led the field through the three-quarters in 1:24.3 and continued to a one-length victory in 1:51.4. Best Night Ever (Louis-Philippe Roy) finished second and favoured Mirage Hanover (Bob McClure) maneuvered through traffic in the stretch to grab third.
T H Mcmurry (McWicked - Waasmula) earned his first win in two career starts for owners Jeffrey Taylor, Siobhan Andrusek and Graeme Mitchell. T H Mcmurry paid $12.90 to win.
Post-race, trainer Menary was quick to credit co-owner Taylor for the colt's performance.
“Jeff picked the colt out and trained him down in Ottawa,” said Menary. “We’ve had him about five weeks and he came pre-made. We are blessed to have the colt come in the barn and I appreciate the opportunity. He baked the cake, I just put the icing on it, so I give Jeff all the credit.”
Taylor then deflected the praise as well, crediting the colt for being a natural right from the start of his development.
"He was just smart right from the get-go. There was no breaking him. We just threw the harness on him and he paced out on the track first step, went by equipment, stood at the barn when we unhooked him and nothing rattled him.
“Around February, we figured he was going to be a pretty nice colt,” said Taylor. “We didn’t want to get too presumptuous or anything, but when he did everything we asked, we figured it was time to send him up here and we trust him with Dave and we couldn’t be happier.”
James MacDonald piloted Chain Gang to victory in the second division.
In the second division, Control The Piper (Louis-Philippe Roy) took the early lead, followed by Cowboy Cargo (McNair) and Crush Kill Destroy (Tyler Borth). Caribbean Sports (Henry) was third and Chain Gang (MacDonald) got away fifth. The field order remained unchanged through the opening panel in :28.2 and half in :57.2. At the three-quarters in 1:26, Caribbean Sports was the first to pull the right line and Chain Gang followed his lead. In a battle down the stretch, Chain Gang and Cowboy Cargo were separated by a neck at the wire. Chain Gang came out on top in the photo in 1:53.3 and Cowboy Cargo was second. Crush Kill Destroy grabbed third.
"I think the world of the horse," said MacDonald post-race. "Unfortunately, in the qualifier he got a little hot on me and went a little bit more than I wanted to. Nick's [trainer Gallucci] probably made a couple of changes and the horse was night and day better. He sat in and that was the biggest thing for me. I know the speed will come, and I know the speed is there, so it’s just doing it the right way and he did it the right way today."
Owned by Millar Farms, Chain Gang (Bettors Delight - Duostep Hanover) collected his first win in his debut start. Off as the favourite in the field of nine, the Nick Gallucci trainee paid $3.40 to win.
When asked if he was still the fastest colt he has in training — as previously mentioned in the May 2023 issue of TROT Magazine — Gallucci confirmed his earlier statement.
"He's still the fastest colt I have in training. He just seems to pick it up every week. It was nice to see him sit behind horses and come off cover tonight. He's just done everything exceptional so far."
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.