James MacDonald posted five wins on the Thursday (Feb. 8) evening card at Woodbine Mohawk Park, including a sweep of the Blizzard Pacing Series second leg divisions, each worth an $18,000 purse.
MacDonald and Kyle Fellows student Angostura Hanover topped the series action with a 1:54 score in the second division.
Angostura Hanover sat fifth through panels in :27.3 and :57.4 before embarking on the climb towards the front at the three-quarters in 1:26.3. At the final turn, the Fellows trainee hit third. Continuing to plug along, Angostura Hanover posted the swiftest final panel in :26.3 to take the victory in 1:54 by three-quarters of a length over Avas Angel Baby (Louis-Philippe Roy). True That (Doug McNair) took third.
Angostura Hanover, a four-year-old daughter of Betting Line and the Artsplace mare Armbro Amoretto, won her second race in three starts this season and her seventh career tally from 21 starts. Owned by Dr. A J Peter Johnston and Craig Watkins, the filly moved her career sum to $74,592. As the favourite, Angostura Hanover paid $2.60 to win.
MacDonald doubled up in series triumphs with a decisive score aboard Margosgotthecargo.
The Andrew Moore pupil got away seventh through the quarter in :27.1 and half in :56.1. En route to the three-quarters in 1:25.4, MacDonald pulled his right line to move third over on the outside. The pair landed in third as the final turn was met. Accelerating down the lane, Margosgotthecargo took command and kept going to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:54.1. Monsoon (Roy) finished second and Betternotmachme (Travis Cullen) completed the triactor.
A three-year-old daughter of Big Jim and the Sportswriter mare Maplelea, Margosgotthecargo is perfect in four career starts and established a new lifetime mark. Owned and bred by Moore, the filly moved her career bankroll to $29,400. She returned $2.60 as the heavily backed favourite.
Something Royal ($18), trained by Cameron McQueen, and MacDonald scored in 1:56 to take the first of three $9,000 Pop Up Series divisions for claiming fillies and mares. MacDonald completed his five-win score with Hillbilly Jet ($2.60) in 1:54.1 for Richard Moreau and Ready For Landing ($3.20) in 1:58.1 for Dominic Gladu.
Jody Jamieson and Silly But Serious ($8.30) nabbed the second Pop Up Series split for trainer Shayne Barrington in 1:55 while McNair and Del Diggity ($5.30) took the final split in 1:55.1 for Garry Merner.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)