First Preferred of 2021 for Oney Hall

Oney Hall won his first Woodbine Mohawk Park Preferred of the harness racing season on Tuesday, three weeks after losing one by a nose.

He locked down the four-hole as the field of six moved into single-file-formation. Memo (Doug McNair) managed the tempo from the lead, cutting :27.3 and :57.1 first-half fractions. Trevor Henry pulled Oney Hall into the breeze as they trotted down the backside, and the Deweycheatumnhowe gelding rapidly reeled in the leader.

Oney Hall, a half-length behind at three-quarters in 1:26, rocketed past Memo at headstretch. Henry looked behind him just after the eighth pole and ceased efforts, allowing Oney Hall to glide to victory in 1:53.2.

Only For Justice (Chris Christoforou) surged late for place. Cool Muscle (Paul Macdonnell) also came from behind and finished third. The win price was $3.30.

ONEY HALL REPLAY

Oney Hall, a five-year-old gelding, has now won 17 of his 63 career starts. He has earned $233,289 for Alan Leavitt of Lexington, who has given the horse to trainer Robert McIntosh for all of the gelding’s Canadian starts. Oney Hall shipped to Woodbine Mohawk Park on Oct. 9, 2020 and immediately won six straight races, including his only prior Preferred win. He relocated to The Meadowlands in April 2021 during the shutdown of Ontario racing, winning in his eighth and final start at the track. He has made six appearances at Mohawk Park since returning on Jul. 6, including a conditioned score on Aug. 2 and a photo finish Preferred loss on Aug. 10.

Also on the card, five-year-old Bettors Delight gelding Maintenance Man changed hands for the fifth straight week as he won the night’s claiming handicap. He was claimed for $12,000 from trainer Clayton Miller in an Aug. 3 victory, but new conditioner Robert Don Fellows saw him for only one start before the gelding moved to William Rosene for $16,000. Joe Pereira had him a week later following a victory under the $15,000 tag, and Richard Moreau trained him to a new lifetime mark and most decisive victory of the five-race spell this week after being claimed for $17,000 in his previous effort.

Jody Jamieson was kept in the bike by each trainer except Moreau, who brought in Sylvain Filion. Maintenance Man also eclipsed $100,000 in career earnings with the Tuesday win and tallied his ninth victory in 61 starts. $77,000 in claiming fees have been exchanged over the horse in the past five weeks.

Five horses broke their maidens during the evening:

• Ladies First (4-1-0-1) — two-year-old Muscle Mass filly — 1:59 — trained and driven by Roger Mayotte for RAW Equine, Big Als Stables, Ben Mudry, and Just In Time Stable — $72,000 Ontario Select purchase.
• Quebecoise (1-1-0-0) — two-year-old Sunshine Beach filly — 1:55 — driven by James MacDonald, trained by Shawn Steacy for Katherine Steacy, Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc., and Conrad Leber — homebred for Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc.
• Hone The Tone (4-1-0-0) — four-year-old E L Titan gelding — 1:58 — driven by Filion, trained by Shane Weber for Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin. Homebred for owners.
• Kipper Whipr Snipr (4-1-1-0) — two-year-old Royalty For Life colt — 1:58 — driven by Louis-Philippe Roy, trained by Fellows for Edward Wilson. Homebred for owner.
• Thornbury (4-1-0-0) — two-year-old Sportswriter colt — 1:54.4 — driven by Christoforou, trained by John Kopas for his John Kopas Stables Ltd., Clay Horner, and Drybar Stables. $26,000 Ontario Select purchase.

Woodbine Mohawk Park hosts eliminations for the William Wellwood Memorial and the Peaceful Way on Thursday, Sep. 2. The first contest kicks off the 11-race card at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink