Woodbine Mohawk Park: Detonater Hanover delivers in OSS Gold Series

Detonater Hanover posted his first career Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) victory while winning the lone C$150,000 Gold Leg 4 division for 2-year-old trotting colts on Friday (Sept. 4) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The son of Muscle Mass out of Dancing Flames defeated fellow 6-5 shot D A Johnny Cash (Doug McNair), the slight favorite, by a neck in 1:54 1/5 for the father-and-son team of trainer and owner Dr. Ian Moore and driver Tyler Moore.

Off the gate, Trevor Henry sent Kountry Cantab to the lead from the outside post seven and battled both Detonater Hanover and Three Six Zero (Jody Jamieson) in the turn.

"Going into that turn, Jody somehow got out there, and it was a little tight, so I had to move over some for him," Tyler told Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis. "But I didn't want any problems, so I ended up being three-wide in the first turn, which wasn't ideal, but the colt hung tough. He got a cheap middle-half, we'll call it, but he was definitely live for turn for home."

Detonater Hanover led the field through fractions of 28 1/5, 57 and 1:26 4/5 with D A Johnny Cash on his heels from the half-mile pole onward. In the stretch, the two trotters battled all the way to the wire, but Detonater Hanover never gave quarter. Three Six Zero was third, followed by Kountry Cantab and Grand Manalishi (Tyler Jones).

Unstable Genius, who won the first three Gold legs of the season - on July 6, July 24 and Aug. 14, all at Woodbine Mohawk Park, including a 1:53 OSS record in the last start - was not entered in Friday's fourth leg.

Detonater Hanover paid $4.70 to win.

The victory pushed Detonater Hanover's earnings to C$268,482 and improved his record to 4-1-0 in seven starts for the Moore family's Detonater Hanover Stable of Cambridge, ON, which purchased the colt for $80,000 at the 2025 Standardbred Horse Sales Company yearling auction in Harrisburg, PA, from breeder Hanover Shoe Farms.

Dr. Moore said Detonater Hanover earned a rest with the victory.

"He's had seven starts already, counting tonight, and he's had two times three in-a-row, which is a lot in my books for a baby," Dr. Moore said. "So, he's going to get a week in the paddock now, whether he wants it or not, and won't race again for at least two weeks from now."

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King Of The North fillies sweep Gold divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies

King Of The North fillies Major Contender and Flawless Lady each won a C$100,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Leg 4 division for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

In the first division (race five), Major Contender, sent off at 6-1 in the field of nine, led gate-to-wire for the father-and-son team of trainer Carl Jamieson and driver Jody Jamieson to win by a half-length over the 1-9 favorite Verily (Louis-Philippe Roy) in 1:54.

Major Contender posted fractions of 27 3/5, 56 3/5 and 1:25 3/5 and came home in 28 2/5 to record the victory. Rebel Moon (James MacDonald) went four-wide to finish third, followed by Simea (Trevor Henry) and Kings Lady (Tyler Borth).

"[Major Contender is] so smart," Jody told Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis. "She was just waiting on me to call on her at any point, behind the gate or whatever. And you know, I just reacted. Louis was coming out of there [with Verily]. It looked like he was going to get an easy lead, so I pushed through the middle and you know forced the pace a little bit. That caused him to go back, and my filly just did her thing. She's never been tired crossing the line other than, maybe, some bad drives or some tough trips that I've given her."

Major Contender paid $14.80 to win.

It was the second win of Major Contender's career in her seventh start. Her other victory came in Gold competition on July 23. Major Contender has now earned C$161,533 and has a record of 7 2-2-0.

Out of the mare Major Muscle, Major Contender is owned by Carl and Jody, along with Dave Lemon and George Harrison. The colt, bred by Princeton Farms, Mark Etsell, Robert Newton and Chuan Tan, was purchased for $110,000 at the 2025 Standardbred Horse Sales Company yearling sale in Harrisburg, PA.

"This filly is just a sweetheart," Jody said. "I call her pretty lady when I come over and talk to her...I've loved her since the first day I laid eyes on her, and it was love at first sight. We bought her in Harrisburg last year, and you know we couldn't be happier with her how she's going."

In the second division (race nine), James MacDonald piloted 1-2 favorite Flawless Lady to a head victory over fast-closing Twin B Kingsley (Henry), with Dreamtrade (Bob McClure) just a few more inches back in third. It was the first OSS victory for Flawless Lady.

After Song From Heaven (Borth) led the field to the 28 3/5 quarter, Flawless Lady took over and posted fractions of 57 4/5 and 1:26 3/5 to win with a 28 2/5 final quarter.

"[Flawless Lady] felt like she was trying hard and traveling well," MacDonald said. "So, I just tried to squeeze as much out of her as we could to kind of hang on, but she raced awesome and I'm just happy to be along for the ride."

Northernlights Glo (Mark MacDonald) was third, followed by Song From Heaven.

Flawless Lady paid $3.10 to win.

Flawless Lady, who is out of the Muscle Hill mare Hillbar, was purchased for $30,000 at the 2025 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Doug McIntosh, Bev Snobelen and Randy Liepa. Previously trained and driven by recently-retired Hall of Famer Paul MacDonell, Flawless Lady is now conditioned by Julie Walker.

"She looked a little erratic early, and Paul did a great job getting her settled down," James said. "Now she's kind of been put on the front both times, but both times she raced really well, and hung on tonight."

It was the second straight win for the trotting filly, who is now 2-0-0 in six career starts and has earnings of C$69,775.

--press releases (Ontario Racing)--