No Control sweeps in Ontario-sired Spring Series final highlight

MILTON, April 22, 2023 – Ontario sired competitors of ages three and four were the main harness racing attraction on Saturday night (Apr. 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A quartet of Ontario Sired Spring Series finals for three-year-olds (non-winners of $30,000 in 2022) were contested along with the second leg of the Ontario Graduate for four-year-old pacers. Rain rolled in following the second race of the 13-race card to change the track from ‘Fast’ to ‘Good’.

Ontario Sired Spring Series – 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace

Standout sophomore No Control (Control The Moment) overcame post 10 to sweep the Spring Series in Saturday’s $48,100 final.

Tyler Jones once again steered the Tan Micallef trained No Control to victory, sending the overwhelming favourite forward for the gate-to-wire score. The gelding scooted through fractions of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:23.3 before securing the win of two lengths in 1:52.2.

Gandolf The Black grabbed second, while Bar Down Jim overcame interference in the first turn to finish third.

No Control burst onto the Woodbine scene in December, dominantly winning two of his first three starts. The Micallef trainee recently returned to sweep the Spring Series and improve to five for six lifetime with $60,470 earned for owners Micallef, Keira Liberte and Ian Clarke.

A $2 win ticket on No Control returned $2.40.

No Control is eligible to the Pepsi North America Cup.

Ontario Sired Spring Series – 3-Year-Old Filly Trot

HP Extra Ice (Alarm Detector) sat back early before mowing down her rivals for a 1:56.3 score.

The Ben Baillargeon trained HP Extra Ice got away sixth with driver James MacDonald in the field of seven. The duo got at the half, eventually coming off the final turn wide from fifth and surging by for her third win.

Muscling Vegas finished a length and a half back in second, while Southwind Chardnay was third. The purse for the contest was $43,900.

HP Extra Ice made three qualifying appearances at age two, but never made an official start. The Baillargeon trainee returned March 16 to win her career debut and posted a win and third in the preliminary legs. She’s now three for five overall with $41,610 earned.

Claude Hamel bred HP Extra Ice and shares ownership with trainer Baillargeon and Santo & Nunzio Vena.

HP Extra Ice paid $4.70 to win.

Ontario Sired Spring Series – 3-Year-Old Filly Pace

Race-favourite Elises Delight (Bettors Delight) proved she was much the best to win her $49,300 final in 1:54.3.

The Jeff Gillis trained Elises Delight fired out from post-eight for driver James MacDonald to post a :27.4 opener. The favourite gave way briefly to outside starter Dewitt This Moment before circling back to command at a :57 half.

Elises Delight rolled down to three-quarters in 1:25.3 before kicking clear in the lane to win in the rain by 2 ½ lengths. Tesla Power was second, while Chedda Chedda was third.

Elises Delight posted a win and second in the preliminary legs. The Gillis trainee is now four for eight this season with $59,470 earned. Gillis shares ownership with Ellen Ott.

Elises Delight paid $4.70 to win.

Ontario Sired Spring Series – 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot

Bruce Richardson trainee Like Chaos (Lookslikeachpndale) got a perfect steer from driver Trevor Henry to capture his $45,400 Spring Series final in 1:57.2.

Like Chaos got away fourth and would pick up the live cover of favourite Devils Arch on the final turn to sit second-over swinging for home. The Richardson trainee powered by the public’s top-choice to score the victory by 2 ½ lengths.

Devils Arch settled for second, while Lava Field was third.

Like Chaos has enjoyed a nice run of success at age three after going winless in eight starts as a rookie. The Richardson student scored a win and third in the preliminary legs and now is four for eight this season with $60,000 earned.

Like Chaos is owned by Richardson and Joseph Coffey. He paid $11.40 go win.

Ontario Graduate Series – 4-Year-Old Pacers

Cold Creek Queso (Betterthancheddar) improved to two for two with a coast-to-coast score in Saturday’s $25,000 Ontario Graduate Series second leg.

The Murray Brethour trained Cold Creek Queso wowed in his season debut with an explosive final turn move and :25 final-quarter to win last week. The tactics switched on Saturday to a front-end mission with the same result of another victory.

Driver Sylvain Filion sent Cold Creek Queso forward to win an early sprint and grab command. The duo posted splits of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.2 before kicking home in :27 for a 2 ½ lengths victory.

Ron tracked the leader throughout and finished second. Camara Moment was third, while Dreamfair Arnie B rallied for fourth.

Cold Creek Queso is now a nine-time winner and surpassed $300,000 in career earnings with Saturday’s victory for owners Cold Creek Standardbred.

The Ontario Graduate Series continues next weekend with leg three. The four Graduate finals will be contested on Saturday, May 6.

Live racing resumes Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7 p.m.

To read about the $42,000 Free For All from this card, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Entertainment