Woodbine Mohawk Park: Jamieson sweeps Tompkins-Geers tilts

Driver Jody Jamieson guided both Tompkins-Geers winners on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A single division of the Tompkins-Geers for 2-year-old male pacers and 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters wrapped up back-to-back nights of Grand Circuit action at the Campbellville, Ontario, oval.

The C$63,950 Tompkins-Geers for pacers saw Jamieson do some stick-handling in the lane before his charge Tilthecowscomehome rocketed up to nail race favorite Dad at the wire in 1:52 4/5.

Trained by Carl Jamieson, Tilthecowscomehome got away third and would stick to the rail through the opening three-quarters of a mile. No Waitlist did the roadwork, posting fractions of 26 4/5, 56 4/5 and 1:25 3/5. The 1-5 favorite Dad moved out from fourth at the half to come first-up and took command with an eighth of a mile to go.

Appearing posed to win, Dad would get picked off at the wire by Tilthecowscomehome, who angled off the rail in early stretch around one rival, then went back down to the pylons to get by another before angling out around two more rivals and shooting up powerfully in deep stretch to win. No Waitlist finished a game third.

Tilthecowscomehome was a $70,000 (USD) Lexington Select yearling purchase for the Jamiesons, Joanne Morrison and Blair Corbeil. The son of Cattlewash entered Friday's career debut off a pair of qualifying scores.

"He actually surprised us in the last qualifier and was really sharp (in) 1:54 3/5," said Jody Jamieson post-race. "We expected him to be a good horse, but we just didn't know for sure...he just didn't train down great, and we actually told people that 'he's just a horse we thought,' so he's a nice surprise.

"The stick-handling and a 2-year-old that can handle that and still pace on the line to beat a couple of really nice horses, I'm just giddy about him."

Tilthecowscomehome paid $13.70 to win.

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In The Black delivered a memorable 13-1 upset for trainer Jeff Williams in the C$47,250 trotting event.

Beau Knight, one of the favorites in the field of seven, made a break before the start, which changed the outlook of the contest. Southwind Chester cut the mile, posting clips of 28 2/5, 59 and 1:28 4/5, while 1-2 favorite Captain Micah sat back in fourth.

Driven by Jamieson, In The Black popped out from third on the far turn to approach the leader first-up. The son of Green Manalishi powered by in the lane and trotted off to win by four lengths in 1:56. Starstruck finished second after a two-hole trip, Southwind Chester held third over Captain Micah in fourth.

Co-bred by the late Hall of Famer Bob McIntosh, In The Black is trained by McIntosh's former long-time assistant Williams, who earned his first Grand Circuit victory.

"It's pretty cool," said Williams of the stakes win. "That's a nice colt. I thought from day one he's been one of my best colts. My son, Austin, trains him more often than I do. I usually go with (filly) Canukeepasecret, but when I first started talking to Jody about driving these two for me, it was this guy he was really happy with and had really high hopes for him."

In The Black is owned by Mardon Stables, Tyrone Valley Farm and Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc.

In The Black follows stablemate Incantation, who won a division of the Tompkins-Geers last season as one of McIntosh's final training wins.

"It's an experience of a lifetime; you can't replicate it with anybody else as far as I'm concerned," said Williams of his nearly three decades working with McIntosh. "It's not lost on me that these babies are McIntosh horses, and I think he'd be very proud of them...I think he'd be very proud of what they've done, and I just try to put in my work and make him proud if I can."

In The Black is now one-for-two to begin his career. He paid $23.80 to win.

Live racing continues Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 6:35 p.m.

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--