Horn Player makes auspicious return

Horn Player (Tactical Landing) won her 2023 harness racing debut convincingly on Thursday (Mar. 23).

She was aided by breaks from opponents, but it was an auspicious start after she missed the board in her last four starts of last year.

Sylvain Filion put her in play immediately from post nine, pushing the three-year-old to take over from Match Meif You Can (Matthew Bax) at the quarter in :28.2. She maintained a solid pace to the half in :57.3 and was handed further advantage when Hp Extra Ice (James MacDonald) self-destructed with a break and hindered Royalty Agreement (Tyler Jones) behind her.

Horn Player began to shake loose going to three-quarters in 1:27. Two more rivals took themselves out of it on the final turn, and the remaining four chasers made no impact as Horn Player cruised home to win by three-and-three-quarter-lengths in 1:57.2.

Warrawee Yay (Chris Christoforou) beat Match Meif You Can home for place. The latter finished third.

HORN PLAYER REPLAY

It was the second lifetime win for Horn Player, who is now two-for-eight lifetime. The Dominic Gladu-trained filly has earned $21,870 for The Stable’s Horn Player Group, Hutchison Harness of North Ridgeville, and Never 2 Late Stable of Greenlawn. She was a finalist for the Peaceful Way last season but packed it in after that race in August. She had struggled in two previous conditioned events, finishing fifth and ninth.

Woodbine Mohawk Park’s next card is set for Friday, Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink