Claimers Clash In Pop Up Series Sequel; Moreau And Filion Nab Five

Claiming pacers were out in full force Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park as the venue played host to the second leg of a Pop Up Series, which began last week at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

After racing for price tags of $7,000 in leg one, the male pacers were forced to go in for tags of $8,500 in Monday’s second leg of the series.

Kevndan Fraudsters, who was third in leg one of the series, bounced back to win his Monday evening assignment by open lengths for the tandem of driver Doug McNair and trainer Douglas Currie.

The six-year-old son of Betterthancheddar-Jet Newton parked past the quarter pole before muscling his way to the top in the backstretch.  Once he cleared to the lead he went on to supply the field with middle panels of :57 and 1:26.4.  His :29.3 kicker earned him the win by 2-1/2 lengths over race favourite Mike Powerhouse in 1:56.2.  Determined was third.

It was a winning debut for owner/trainer Currie who claimed the gelding from his Dec. 5 outing.  The victory was his third of the season and the 13th of his career.  He’s now banked over $80,000 to date.

Dark Moves came up just a head short when finishing second in last week’s opening leg assignment, but he was a much the best winner in the second leg for driver Doug McNair and trainer Raphael Bourassa. 

The four-year-old son of Dali-Paris Freeluck was hustled to the lead from Post 5, and there was no catching the favourite once he established command.  He posted panels of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28.1 before using a closing quarter of :28 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Always Been Crazy in 1:56.1.  Titanium N took home the show dough in the $8,500 affair.

Francois Morin of Beauceville, Que. owned the pacer who was claimed from the winning effort by Daniel Mead.  It was the seventh win of the season for the eight-time winner who has banked just shy of $60,000 to date.

Nine Ways captured the final division, and he did so as the 6-5 favourite. 

Sylvain Filion attacked first-over with the Richard Moreau trainee, who dug down deep and drew away to win by 3-1/2 lengths over Mack The Knife in 1:56.  Taking home third prize was May To For.

Richard Moreau trains the eight-year-old son of Delmarvalous-Nine Of Hearts for the partnership of Jac Racing Stable and Dare To Dream Stables.  The gelding was claimed from the winning effort by owner Kevin Skilton.  It was the third win of the season for the 38-time winner who is quickly closing in on $380,000 in career earnings.

That was one of five victories on the 11-race card for conditioner Richard Moreau.

The Quebec native also piled up wins with Itstimetogohome (1:55.2), Century Gigalo (1:53.1), Coin Flip (1:53.4) and Night Club Hanover (1:54.2).

He’s up to 316 wins and counting in 2022 and his seasonal bankroll recently surpassed the $5 million mark.  In search of a 10th consecutive O’Brien Award as the nation’s Trainer of the Year, Moreau recently skyrocketed over the $70 million mark in lifetime earnings and he’s now just 302 wins away from joining the 7,000-win club.

Sylvain Filion also connected for a five-win performance on the 11-race card.

He earned trips to victory lane with Itstimetogohome (1:55.2), Nine Ways (1:56), Century Gigalo (1:53.1), Night Club Hanover (1:54.2) and Serenity Cruise (1:54.4).

Filion has now racked up 251 wins on the season and more than $5.7 million in purse earnings.  The career winner of 9,815 races has banked in excess of $133 million to date.

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.