Woodbine Mohawk Park: OSS events for rookies in abundance on Friday

Freshmen were the stars of the eight Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) races on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and a pair Gold divisions for male trotters led the way, with Myretirementdream winning in impressive fashion in race four, the first C$103,000 division.

Jody Jamieson took advantage of an inside post position by pressing the gas pedal early on his young trotter, and the Eli Wagner trainee responded by leaving well from post two.

"Like any young horse you got to watch him the first few steps off the wings," said Jamieson. "Tonight, I scored him down a little bit the wrong way down the track and brought him up late and he was just perfect. He was a pro. Eli has always done a good job and got horses ready to go early."

Myretirementdream stayed on the lead until he was challenged in the middle of the third quarter by The Canam Banker, but his rival went off-stride and Jamieson was able to hold off the remaining challengers.

"I popped the plugs, and he dug right in to the wire, just a lovely little horse," said Jamieson. "I drove his mother for Eli, and I get to drive this fella tonight, so it's just been a pleasure."

Wagner bred and owns the Il Sogno Dream colt. His mother Myretirementticket won eight times from 59 starts for Wagner, putting over C$120,000 on her card in the process.

The betting public agreed with Jamieson that Wagner would have his colt ready to go, making him the 6-5 favorite en route to his 1:56 win.

30-1 longshot Stony Brook (Muscle Mass) finished second for trainer Julie Walker with Sylvain Filion driving. Walker co-owns the colt with Nancy Holmes, Yvon Parmentier, and 1035840 Ontario Inc. Matt Bax trainee Elegant Resolve was third with James MacDonald in the bike. Bax Stable, Gaelic Stable, Sharon Allensen, Don Allensen, and Happy Trails Stables own the gelded son of Resolve.

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In race six, the second Gold division, a ten-horse C$104,000 affair, Indy Be Quick was victorious at odds of 13-1.

Sylvain Filion sent the son of Alarm Detector to the front but was content to let Hedge Fund Wizard overtake him for the second and third quarters. Rounding for home Filion found racing room up the inside, and the Ben Baillargeon trainee trotted home in 27 1/5 to win by a head in 1:57 1/5.

"He was never able to cut his own mile training; I had to follow other people," said Baillargeon. "His mind wasn't there; he was just wandering around. So, when he got to the front past the quarter, I knew he was looking for trouble. So, they pulled back, they went back in front of him, and he got his mind back on business."

Baillargeon co-owns Indy Be Quick with Teresa Davidson, Santo Vena, and Nunzio Vena. It was his pari-mutuel debut.

Odds-on favorite Soar Higher finished second for trainer Matt Bax. James MacDonald steered the son of Resolve, who was a $120,000 purchase at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is a half-brother to 2021 OSS Super Final winner Up and Ready. Bax Stable, Brad Grant, David Hudson, and Harbor Racing Stable own the gelding who now has two seconds from two pari-mutuel starts. Rounding out the Gold podium was Masstercraft, who went off at 12-1, and finished a neck back of second. Kyle Bossence trains the Muscle Mass colt for owner Steven Colvin. Trevor Henry had the drive.

There were also six Grassroots divisions on the card tonight at Woodbine Mohawk Park for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Sylvain Filion picked up a driving double, winning race three with Why Wouldnt Ya Know and race five with Do Better.

In race five his Hall of Fame father Yves made his first driving start of the year with Funtime Bayama and finished second.

Do Better is a Bob McIntosh homebred who now has two wins from two lifetime starts to go along with two impressive qualifying wins. The son of Bettor's Delight stopped the clock in 1:52 3/5 tonight.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--