Woodbine Mohawk Park: Archangel-sired trifecta in OSS Gold Series

Fashion Frenzie returned to the Ontario Sires Stakes winner's circle at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday, Aug. 23, capturing the lone C$155,600 3-year-old trotting colt and gelding Gold Series division.

Starting from post three in a field of six rivals, driver Louis-Philippe Roy and Fashion Frenzie found themselves three-wide heading into the first turn as Day At The Gym rocketed away from post four and Logan Park also left from post two. After Logan Park cleared to the lead, Roy opted to press on, and Fashion Frenzie clocked the 28 second opening quarter and 56 1/5 half. Publicity Seeker looked Fashion Frenzie in the eye heading by the 1:25 1/5 three-quarters, but the favorite battled all the way down the stretch to earn his second Gold Series win of the season in a personal-best 1:53 1/5.

Lexus Kody closed well for second, edging out pocket-sitter Logan Park, who settled for third. The top three finishers are all by sire Archangel.

"I was a little bit nervous when I saw him three-wide in the first turn, but then he controlled that," said trainer Richard Moreau. "And then the horse (Publicity Seeker) came first-over and I thought, 'Here we go; I'm done. No, I'm still there,' and I held my breath."

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Last year's Super Final winner, Fashion Frenzie was also a winner in the sophomore Gold Series season opener at Woodbine Mohawk Park on July 1. He then made an early break and finished fifth in the July 11 leg at Rideau Carleton Raceway and was a hard-closing second in the Aug. 9 leg at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

"He is hyper and game. It is stressful to manage his energy, especially at Mohawk," said Moreau. "He's quiet at the farm, not too bad. He's used to the routine, but once you get to Mohawk...he's maturing, let's put it this way.

"He's not impressive size-wise, but he has a beautiful gait," added Moreau. "There's a good reason to get up in the morning and look after this one."

Moreau trains Fashion Frenzie for Ecurie Francis Richard Inc., Pierre Guillemette, Sylvain Richard, and Mario Bourgea. Moreau said Francis Richard, who selected the gelding from the 2019 London Selected Yearling Sale for C$7,000 and taught him his early lessons, deserves much of the credit for Fashion Frenzie's success, which has seen him earn just shy of C$395,000 to date.

With his growing maturity, Fashion Frenzie's connections are hoping there is more success to come in the trotter's future.

"I think he's the best. He's also getting nicer to drive start after start," said Roy. "I'm excited for the end of the season with him."

In addition to the last Gold Series Leg at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Oct. 4 and the Oct. 16 Super Final, Fashion Frenzie is eligible to the Goodtimes Trot, with eliminations on Sept. 4 and the final Sept. 11, and the Sept. 18 Canadian Trotting Classic, which will be limited to the 10 horses with the highest lifetime earnings at the time of entry.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--