Woodbine Mohawk Park: Duly Resolved, Esplosione strike Gold in OSS

The unofficial start to Ontario's summer was last weekend, on Victoria Day, but the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold season officially got underway on a beautiful Monday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a pair of C$101,300 3-year-old trotting colt and gelding divisions.

All eyes were on the two division favorites, Duly Resolved and Twin B Archie, with both 2-year-old stars looking to replicate their OSS success as sophomores. Duly Resolved, who hadn't found the winner's circle in two starts this season, was sent off as the 1-2 choice in the opening Gold division of the evening. The son of Resolve blasted to the
early lead from post seven and proved to be the class of the field for trainer and co-owner John Bax.

"Everything went to plan, and I was pretty happy with the way it set up," said Bax. "Nobody gave him any grief, so that was the way it was supposed to happen."

Hall of Famer Paul MacDonnell piloted the gelding to an opening panel of 27 4/5 and a half-mile time of 56 4/5. No one in the field put forth a major challenge, and he won by two lengths in 1:54 1/5.

Bax and co-owners David Hudson, Don Allensen, and Gaelic Stable will now turn their attention to the Goodtimes Stakes on Pepsi North America Cup night. The C$240,000 race is named after a lifetime winner of over C$2.2 million who was trained by Bax.

"The Goodtimes is definitely where we're looking next," said Bax. "I'd love to hand the trophy to myself."

Tymal Tiggs, driven by Louis-Phillipe Roy, sat in the pocket the entire way and finished second. The son of Muscle Mass, a Jean Tourigny trainee, continued a strong 3-year-old season that's seen him earn over C$58,000 for owner Jean Mondou. Bill Manes and William Cripps's homebred Evil Guy (Il Sogno Dream) rounded out the top-three for trainer-driver duo of Shannon and Trevor Henry.

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In the second Gold division of the evening, Twin B Archie's turn to prove he was up to the task, going off as a the heavy 1-9 favorite. However, Esplosione and driver Jody Jamieson had other ideas.

Esplosione, a gelding from Kadabra's second-to-last racing crop, settled into fifth early on and found a second-over trip to put himself into position heading into the stretch.

"I was behind the favorite early, which is right where I wanted to be," said Jamieson. "When he vacated that spot and went to the lead, it left me thinking I was going to be first-up, but the trip worked out. I just had to be a little more patient."

Owned by Melvin Hartman and Enzed Racing Stable, Esplosione closed in a final panel of 27 2/5 to beat Twin B Archie by a neck.

"He should have been third by rights," said Jamieson. "But he dug in to win. I was really impressed with the horse."

It was the third career Gold division win for Esplosione, and he took a new mark of 1:53 4/5. The Meg Crone trainee will also target the Goodtimes as his next outing.

"He's very consistent," said Crone. "He can race off the front, or off a helmet, and he's so smart that it helps a lot. He never gets hot. I think he'll be one of the top contenders the rest of the year."

Twin B Archie, a son of Archangel, now holds a record of 2-1-0 in three starts this season for trainer Scott McEneny, and already has over C$98,000 in earnings for McEneny and his ownership partners Domenic Chiaravalle, Floyd Marshall, and Martwest Racing Stable.

Camilla Christoforou trainee Safe Conduct finished third. Driver Chris Christoforou set an early pace of 26 4/5 with the son of Archangel. The finish pushed him over C$58,000 in career earnings for owners Charalambos Christoforou and Irvann Holdings Inc.

Gold action returns to Woodbine Mohawk Park next Monday with the opening leg for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

--press release (Ontario Racing)--