The unofficial start to Ontario’s summer was last weekend, on Victoria Day, but the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold harness racing season officially got underway on a beautiful Monday night (May 30) at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a pair of $101,300 three-year-old trotting colt divisions.

All eyes were on the two division favourites, Twin B Archie (Archangel) and Duly Resolved (Resolve), with both two-year-old stars looking to replicate their OSS success as sophomores.

Esplosione topples big favourite in $101,300 OSS Gold 1 — **Esplosione (#8) gets by Twin B Archie (#5) for a Gold division win (John Watkins Photo)**

In the second Gold division of the evening it was Twin B Archie’s turn to prove he was up to the task, going off as a the heavy 1/9 favourite. However, Esplosione (Kadabra) and driver Jody Jamieson had other ideas.

The gelding from Kadabra’s second last racing crop settled into fifth early on and found a second up trip to put himself into position heading into the stretch.

“I was behind the favourite early which is right where I wanted to be,” said Jamieson. “When he vacated that spot and went to the lead, it left me thinking I was going to be first up, but the trip worked out. I just had to be a little more patient”

ESPLOSIONE REPLAY

Owned by Melvin Hartman and Enzed Racing Stable, Esplosione closed in a final panel of 27.2 to beat Twin B Archie by a neck.

“He should have been third by rights,” said Jamieson. “But he dug in to win. I was really impressed with the horse.”

It was the third career Gold division win for Esplosione, and a in career best mark of 1:53.4. The Meg Crone trainee will also target the Goodtimes as his next outing.

Esplosione topples big favourite in $101,300 OSS Gold 2 — **Esplosione following his Gold victory with driver Jody Jamieson (left), trainer Meg Crone (centre), and Cain Haughan (right)**

“He’s very consistent,” said Crone. “He can race off the front, or off a helmet, and he’s so smart it helps a lot. He never gets hot. I think he’ll be one of the top contenders the rest of the year.”

Twin B Archie now holds a record of 2-1-0 in three starts this season for trainer Scott McEneny, and already has over $98,000 in earnings for McEneny and his ownership partners Domenic Chiaravalle, Floyd Marshall, and Martwest Racing Stable.

Camilla Christoforou trainee Safe Conduct finished third. Driver Chris Christoforou set an early pace of 26.4 with the son of Archangel. The finish pushed him over $58,000 in career earnings for owners Charalambos Christoforou and Irvann Holdings Inc.

In the opening Gold division of the evening, Duly Resolved, who hadn’t found the winner’s circle in two starts this season, was sent off as the 1/2 favourite. The gelding blasted to the early lead from the seven post and proved to be the class of the field for trainer and co-owner John Bax.

Esplosione topples big favourite in $101,300 OSS Gold 3 — **Duly Resolved captures his Gold contest**

“Everything went to plan, and I was pretty happy with the way it set up,” said Bax. “Nobody gave him any grief, so that was the way it was supposed to happen.”

Hall of Famer Paul MacDonnell piloted the gelding to an opening panel of 27.4 and a half mile time of 56.4. No one in the field put forth a major challenge, and he won by two lengths in 1:54.1.

DULY RESOLVED REPLAY

Bax and co-owners David Hudson, Don Allensen, and Gaelic Stable will now turn their attention to the Goodtimes Trot on Pepsi North America Cup night. The $240,000 race is named after a lifetime winner of over $2.2 million, who was trained by Bax.

“The Goodtimes is definitely where we’re looking next,” said Bax. “I’d love to hand the trophy to myself.”

Tymal Tiggs (Muscle Mass), driven by Louis-Phillipe Roy, trailed the entire way to finish second. The and Jean Tourigny trainee continued a strong three-year-old season that’s seen him earn over $58,000 for owner Jean Mondou.

Bill Manes and William Cripps homebred Evil Guy (Il Sogno Dream) rounded out the top-three for trainer-driver duo Shannon and Trevor Henry.

Also on the card, Patriarch Hanover soared down the stretch to defeat Oney Hall, the winner of six consecutive Free-For-All Trots at Woodbine Mohawk Park. To read the full story and view the replay, click here.

The Ontario Sires Stakes continues Thursday June 2, with a Grassroots Leg for three-year-old trotting fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Gold action returns to the Milton oval next Monday with the opening Gold Leg for three-year-old pacing fillies.

For up to date OSS Standings, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the Ontario Sires Stakes

Esplosione topples big favourite in $101,300 OSS Gold

Patriarch Hanover dethrones Oney Hall

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