Woodbine Mohawk Park: Homebreds victorious in Tuesday's OSS Gold Series

The Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series season for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings got going on Tuesday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park with two C$95,000 divisions won by LMC Wagon Wheel and Galen Erso.

LMC Wagon Wheel and trainer/driver Pat Hudon lingered back in fifth through fractions of 28 1/5, 57 1/5 and 1:27 2/5, but Hudon fanned him out widest past three-quarters, and behind a 29 2/5 final kicker, he'd get up to tally by a length in 1:57 4/5. Getthegreen (Roger Mayotte) also closed well from off-the-pace for second and Gravenhurst (Sylvain Filion) came in third.

"He's got lots. He's just got to stay sound and we're going to have a lot of fun," remarked a smiling Hudon. "He never did anything wrong (training down). He was different. When you walk in the barn, he's just a smart animal."

A homebred for owner Frank Cirillo and his daughter Loredana, LMC Wagon Wheel is by Wheeling N Dealin. He broke his maiden in his third outing, has put away C$49,420 and paid $23.60 to win as a 10-1 offering.

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In the other grouping, Galen Erso (Doug McNair) was fourth at the 28 4/5 opening quarter but brushed to the top in the backstretch, clearing Good Golly Hanover (Paul MacDonell) past the 58 2/5 half. McNair was able to keep the tempo moderate around the final bend and got to three-quarters in 1:27 4/5, then held off an attack by a first-over Artful Dodger (Filion) through the lane to get the win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56 1/5. Chicago Hall (James MacDonald) collected third.

"They didn't really give him the race, so he did good to fend them off. Sylvain's horse gave him a pretty good run," said McNair. "I actually thought he was going to be second there for a split second and then he dug down tough. Even if he was second, he would have raced pretty good."

Galen Erso, a colt from the first crop of Green Manalishi, was bred by owner Marcus Melander and is trained by Gregg McNair. He has a win and a third in two appearances, has pocketed C$53,521 and returned $5.80 to win as the 9-5 second choice.