Woodbine Mohawk Park: P L Spencer posts record Ontario Sires Stakes clocking

P L Spencer set the fastest mile by a male sophomore trotter in Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) history, winning the lone C$140,000 Gold event on Monday (June 23) at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:51 3/5. The previous record of 1:52 was set by Mister Herbie while winning his OSS Super Final in 2011 at Woodbine Racetrack.

Bob McClure orchestrated the record-setting victory after battling with Ritchie Rich (Todd Ratchford) much of the stretch and eking out a one length victory. Both trotters won Gold events on May 29 at Woodbine Mohawk Park when it was split into two C$90,000 divisions.

P L Spencer (5-2) got away third as Fast Snap (Chris Christoforou) led the field of nine to the quarter pole in 27 seconds. Ritchie Rich, the 7-5 favorite, made his move to the front from fifth just before the 55 2/5 half with P L Spencer following closely. By the time the field reached the three-quarters in 1:23, the battle was set. McClure pulled P L Spencer from the pocket and attempted to sail past Ritchie Rich only to be rebuffed until the waning moments of the record mile.

Lmc Wagon Wheel was third. Fast Snap was fourth and Cousin Halifax picked up the final check.

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"My colt raced great, but Ritchie Rich, that's a very nice horse," McClure said. "They've done a really good job with him. Honestly, when that horse re-moved to the front, I knew we had our work cut out for us. Todd [Ratchford] did everything he could to win the race. But, tonight, my colt really dug deep."

P L Spencer, a gelded son of Resolve out of P L Indyanaca, was bred by Prince Lee Acres and is owned by his trainer, Steve Bossence, along with Richard Thompson, Derek Reid and E C S Racing LLC. The group purchased P L Spencer for C$40,000 at the 2023 London Classic Yearling Sale.

Bossence said the OSS record was, "nice, especially the way he did it - first-up. One thing, he's the smallest one of the bunch [in the race]."

P L Spencer now sports a record of 4-1-0 in seven 2025 starts. He's earned C$147,950 this year and $157,550 lifetime. His career record is now 5-1-0 in 11 starts.

He scratched sick out of the C$227,000 Goodtimes final on June 14, but Bossence said P L Spencer trained well last week. The trainer said he was confident P L Spencer was in good shape for the Gold. The mile and how P L Spencer battled proved the trotter was exceptional.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--