Two-year-old trotting colts made their Ontario Sires Stakes debuts in a pair of $100,000-plus divisions on Friday, July 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with Myretirementdream and Indy Be Quick headlining the Gold Series group.
Trainer Eli Wagler's homebred Myretirementdream (pictured above) lowered the national season's record for two-year-old male trotters to 1:56 flat with a two-length victory in the first Gold division.
Driver Jody Jamieson guided Myretirementdream to the lead from post two, setting opening panels of :28.1 and :58.3. Meanwhile, The Canam Banker (Trevor Henry) advanced first-up down the backstretch and touched down on top heading into the final turn, but he broke stride once he cleared and was taken into the safety lane, leaving Myretirementdream in control and a pocket-popping What About Elmo (Bob McClure) in the hunt as they raced by three-quarters in 1:27.2. Myretirementdream shrugged off that challenger in the stretch as Jamieson popped the earplugs and he opened up multiple lengths en route to the victory with Stony Burke (Sylvain Filion) closing for second over Elegant Resolve (James MacDonald).
"He was just perfect, he was a pro and I wouldn't expect anything less," commented Jamieson after the race. "Eli's always done a good job and has always had horses ready to go early."
Myretirementdream was indeed ready to go early as he was Canada's first two-year-old qualifying winner of 2023 back on May 27. Friday night's victory followed up his June 27 maiden-breaking score at Mohawk and Myretirementdream now has two wins and a close second-place finish from his first three starts. He paid $4.70 to win as the 6-5 favourite.
The Il Sogno Dream colt is the first foal out of Wagler's Ontario Sires Stakes graduate Myretirementticket.
"I drove his mother for Eli and I got to drive this fella tonight so it's just been a pleasure and it's awesome for Eli," added Jamieson.
In the other Gold division, Indy Be Quick won at first asking, prevailing by a head in 1:57.1 in rein to the hot-handed Sylvain Filion.
Indy Be Quick worked his way to the lead from the outside post nine into the first turn, overtaking Masstercraft (Trevor Henry) and hitting the quarter in :29.1. But Masstercraft retook the lead down the backstretch as he got the jump on Hedge Fund Wizard (Jody Jamieson), who tipped out of third and raced three-wide to take over at the half in 1:00.1.
Hedge Fund Wizard opened up three lengths on the way to three-quarters in 1:28.4 while 3-5 favourite Soar Higher (James MacDonald) made his move going first-up after watching the early action from fourth then took a brief two-hole tuck to braven up for the stretch drive.
As Soar Higher was closing in on Hedge Fund Wizard in the lane, Filion got a clear path inside with Indy Be Quick and that colt sprinted home in :27.1 to prevail by a head in a three-across finish. Soar Higher nabbed the runner-up honours over Masstercraft, who re-rallied in the stretch to take third. Hedge Fund Wizard held on for fourth.
Indy Be Quick is trained by Ben Baillargeon, who also conditioned the gelding's sire Alarm Detector and dam Im A Munchie Girl. Baillargeon shares ownership of the debut winner with Teresa Davidson, Santo Vena and Nunzio Vena.
Indy Be Quick returned $28.30 for the 13-1 upset.
Filion, a four-time Friday night winner, also scored a pair of victories during Friday's Grassroots action, which included six $22,000-plus divisions for two-year-old pacing colts.
Trainer Bob McIntosh's undefeated homebred Do Better (Bettors Delight-West Third Street) did better than the rest, winning the fastest division in 1:52.3 for Filion, who bested his father Yves, driving homebred Funtime Bayama, by two lengths.
Filion also worked out a perfect pocket trip for trainer Dave Brown's homebred Why Wouldnt Ya (Bettors Delight-P L Hurricane), who broke his maiden in his second start in 1:53.2 by four lengths.
The other Grassroots divisions went to the father-son, trainer-driver team of Gregg and Doug McNair with 1:53.2 winner Enforcer; the Anthony Beaton-trained Wikipedia (James MacDonald) in 1:54.1; Vis A Vis Bluechip (Trevor Henry) in 1:54.4 for the Paul Davies stable; and Sports Activator (Louis-Philippe Roy) in 1:55.2 for conditioner Michael Armstrong.
A $25,000 Pop-Up Series final was won by favourite Rockin N Talkin in 1:51 with James MacDonald catch-driving for trainer Herbie Holland. The series was for non-winners of $20,000 in 2023 or not averaging $1,250 or less per start in 2023 (for a minimum of 12 starts).
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.