Woodbine Mohawk Park: OSS Gold Series season begins for the rookies

Trainer Nick Galluci picked up his first Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) win of 2023 when Millar Farms homebred Chain Gang got up late to win race six, the second C$103,100 OSS Gold division for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Monday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Leaving from post three James MacDonald positioned the Bettor's Delight colt off-the-pace in fifth position through the half as Louis-Phillipe Roy and Control The Piper built up a three length lead in fractions of 28 2/5 and 57 2/5. Entering the stretch Control The Piper faded, and Cowboy Cargo, with Doug McNair driving, found racing room to briefly get in front before Chain Gang paced by everyone to stop the clock in 1:53 3/5 and win by a neck.

"He’s the fastest colt I am training this year," said Gallucci. "He just seems to pick it up every week. Nice to see him sit behind horses and come off cover tonight. He's just done everything exceptional so far."

The victory came in Chain Gang's pari-mutuel debut, but Gallucci was confident the horse was ready to race, and the betting public agreed by making him a 3-5 favorite.

"I try not to race my babies before the first Sires Stakes unless I am trying to place them to see if they're going to be a (Gold) or a Grassroots horse," said Gallucci. "He showed enough in his qualifiers that I was quite comfortable with his fitness going into the Gold."

Chain Gang has natural speed that will make him competitive in the Gold ranks of the OSS, and MacDonald will continue to teach the horse how develop as a racehorse each time he sits behind him.

"I know the speed will come, and I know the speed is there. It's just doing it the right way, and he did it the right way tonight," said MacDonald. "You don't want to be a one-trick pony. I think it was a great start for him. I think down the road you'll see him on the lead sometime, but tonight we're just happy with the (win)."

Runner-up Cowboy Cargo was also making his first career start after a pair of qualifiers at the Meadowlands. The Tony Alagna trainee is owned by Peter Alagna and One Point Six Racing Inc. Crush Kill Destroy finished in the show position with Tyler Borth driving for trainer Per Engblom. He is owned by Evans Nation and Engblom Stable.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

In race four, the first OSS Gold division of the evening, T H McMurry emerged victorious.

Leaving from post eight Doug McNair was content to let Chivalry Seelster and Jody Jamieson lead the field through an opening quarter of 27 3/5. McNair and the son of McWicked cleared to the front in the second panel and would stay there the rest of the way to win by a length over Best Night Ever (Betterthancheddar). The final time was 1:51 4/5 and he paid $12.90 for the win.

The performance was a welcome sight for trainer Dave Menary, as T H McMurry had made a break in his debut start.

"When the gate opened last week, my heart just dropped. I never saw the horse put a ripple in anywhere," said Menary. "He came a real good back-half. It was just a fluke thing. We treated it as a fluke thing, made a couple minor adjustments and are happy to be standing here."

Menary, who trains the colt for owners Jeffery Taylor, Siobhan Andrusek, and Graeme Mitchell, was effusive with praise for Taylor's role in the colt's development.

"Jeff picked the colt out and trained him down in Ottawa," said Menary. "We've had him about five weeks, and he came pre-made. We are blessed to have the colt come in the barn, and I appreciate the opportunity. He baked the cake; I just put the icing on it, so I give Jeff all the credit.”

Taylor was on-site at Woodbine Mohawk Park tonight to see his C$22,000 yearling pick up a C$51,550 winner's check.

"Around February we figured he was going to be a pretty nice colt," said Taylor. "We didn't want to get too presumptuous or anything, but when he did everything we asked we figured it was time to send him up here. We trust him with Dave, and we couldn’t be happier."

Best Night Ever finished second for trainer Anthony Beaton with Louis-Philippe Roy driving. Beaton co-owns the colt with David Mercer and West Wins Stable. Rounding out the podium was 3-5 favorite Mirage Hanover, who made a break just after leaving the gate but fought back gamely. Bob McClure was driving for trainer Scott McEneny and Marvin Rounick owns the Bettor's Delight colt.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--