Woodbine Mohawk Park: Rookie trotters rumble in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series

Two-year-old trotters of both sexes met up at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday night for Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series races.

In the first C$102,200 battle for the fillies, Classy Royale (Jody Jamieson) took the lead past the opening quarter of 28 seconds, and following middle-half fractions of just 59 and 1:27 3/5, she sprinted a 28 2/5 final panel to win by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:56. No One (Bruce Richardson) and Evolving (James MacDonald) completed the trifecta.

"She was just solid today. She just felt good, so I wasn't going to bother fighting her and try to change what she wanted to do," said Jamieson.

Trainer Carl Jamieson also co-owns Classy Royale, a daughter of Royalty For Life, with breeder Glengate Farms and their partners Joanne Morrison and Dr. Robert Boyce. She has two wins and a second from three starts, has earned C$106,650, and paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.

Colts and geldings took the track next in their initial C$103,100 duel, and Elegant Resolve (MacDonald) turned a pocket trip into a 1:56 1/5 victory. Masstercraft (Trevor Henry) led through stations of 28 1/5, 58 3/5 and 1:28 1/5 and came up just a head shot of the win and Stony Burke (Sylvain Filion) closed well for third.

"He's been a pleasant surprise. He's a real laid-back colt, and you've got to get him fired up a little bit," remarked winning co-owner John Bax. "It took the whole stretch to get there. I think he's going to last the year."

Bred by Doug Millard, Elegant Resolve is a gelded son of Resolve trained by Matt Bax and owned by Bax Stable, Gaelic Stable, Don Allensen and Happy Trails Stables. The $60,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase broke his maiden in his second attempt, he pushed his bankroll to C$62,782 and he returned $6.60 to win as the 2-1 choice.

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MacDonald was right back for another winner's circle picture with Willys Home Run in the second C$102,200 division for the fillies. After being positioned fifth at the 29 1/5 quarter and 59 second half, MacDonald put Willys Home Run in motion on the last turn and picked up cover from pocket-sitter R Liza (Jamieson) racing to the 1:28 4/5 three-quarters. In the lane Willys Home Run rallied three-wide and was up to triumph by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:57 1/5, followed by R Liza and Hit The Bank (Bob McClure).

"I had no plan. I just wanted to see how she felt leaving the gate. She's shown that she can do anything, so I just wanted to keep her out of trouble. Any time you can get a chance to get a helmet, educate one, and let them really snap home it's good. I saw there were a couple of breakers. I wanted to trip her out; it ended up working out good. I followed Jody in the last turn, but I was open leaving the gate. If I had to cut it, I was okay with that, too.

A full sister (Archangel-Rite Outa The Park) to Canadian record holder Logan Park, Willys Home Run is trained by Kyle Fellows for breeder/co-owner Reg Higgs and co-owners Dr. Sara Gatchell, Jake Higgs and Yolanda Fellows. She has a 2-1-0 record from three appearances, has pocketed C$107,100, and returned $4.50 to win as the betting choice.

Jack N Abs (Doug McNair) captured the other C$103,100 section for colt and gelding trotters by three-quarters of a length in 1:57 3/5 after cutting panels of 28 2/5, 1:00 2/5 and 1:29 1/5. Mrstery Deal (Filion) was next, with Soar Higher (MacDonald) third.

"He just felt rambunctious in the post parade. He was kind of on the bit and he kind of was going to tell me he wanted to get put into the race. Louis (Roy) did a good job with him the first couple of starts. I think he had the inside, which is the worst spot to have for a young trotter. We just took a shot leaving and it worked out."

Gregg McNair trains and co-owns Jack N Abs, a Muscle Mass colt bred by Blair and Erna Corbeil and plucked out of the 2022 London Classic Yearling Sale for C$122,000, with partners Brady Doyle and Shady Hill Racing Stable. Jack N Abs picked up his first career victory, has put away C$57,572 and returned $18.90 to win after being sent off at 8-1.