Since making a break and finishing up the track in a conditioned assignment at Mohawk Racetrack in mid-September OSS graduate Undercover Strike has been untouchable.
The four-year-old son of Striking Sahbra-Under The Pines got things back on track with a win for former trainer Bill Companion on September 24, and following that win Companion parted ways with the gelding who was purchased privately by Frank Bellino of Bronxville, NY. Bellino placed the trotter in the barn of trainer Tony O’Sullivan, and since the move he’s gone 3-for-3 including his come-from-behind score in Monday’s $38,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Racetrack.
Undercover Strike and driver Doug McNair got away fourth in the seven-horse affair while Tall Cotton sprinted to the quarter pole in :28.2 over a track listed ‘good’ with a three-second allowance due to the nasty weather. Race favourite Wishing Stone accelerated to the lead at the half in :57.3 and he led by two lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:27. Undercover Strike, who was still sitting fourth, tipped off the pylons and used a :29.2 final panel to notch a neck decision over Wishing Stone in 1:57.2. Bullet rounded out the top three finishers.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, Undercover Strike improved this year’s record to 10-5-0 from 26 starts and pushed his yearly purse haul to $178,562. The 11-time winner has banked close to $230,000 to date.
O’Sullivan sent out two more winners on the card to finish the abbreviated program with a training triple, and Doug McNair mapped out the winning trips for them, as well.
Boxcar, a new recruit, was a front-stepping winner in Race 2 for owner Mario Bellino of Putnam Valley, NY. The three-year-old son of Fox Valley Barzgar sliced out panels of :27, :56 and 1:25 before kicking home in :29-second clip to win by three lengths in 1:54.
Autumn Gottem found clearance in the late going and drew away off to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:55.4 to five owner Frank Bellino another winner on the card. The recently purchased, three-year-old son of Presidential Ball has put together a 4-1-0 record in his first six starts for the new connections.
O’Sullivan, who was an O’Brien Award finalist last season for Canada’s Trainer of the Year, is just three wins away from matching his personal best for wins in a single season. He won 123 races last year while watching his students bank close to $4 million in earnings. His barn is on the verge of surpassing the $3 million mark this year, and his lifetime earnings are just shy of $15 million to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.