Midnight Nation upsets in OSS Gold – again

Midnight Nation (Betterthancheddar) brought déjà vu to Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Jul. 22) as he stormed down the stretch to upset at double-digit odds in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold for the second time this harness racing season.

The gelding moved into the third-over spot after sitting sixth through :26.3 and :54.3 first-half splits. He trailed the field through three-quarters in 1:22.2 and could only manage marginal headway in early-stretch. Even further back than his previous Gold victory, the gelding exploded and soared by all five of his opponents with a :25.4 last quarter to win the $100,400 first division in 1:49.3 Verdun (Louis-Philippe Roy) also closed and was second-fastest home. Macs Delight (Jonathan Drury) was third.

MIDNIGHT NATION

Midnight Nation is now three-for-10 lifetime with $141,905 in earnings, including divisions of the first two legs of the OSS Gold series for three-year-old pacing males. Richard Moreau trains the gelding for Shaun Vallee of Jackson and D P V Racing Stable of Ringoes.

Better B Bold (Betterthancheddar, Bob McClure) made it an upsetter sweep in the $101,300 second division. The colt swung out turning for home and out-kicked three OSS stars in the closing stages to score in 1:50.2. He passed Moment Is Here (James MacDonald), who rallied by No Control (Sylvain Filion) and Whatchulookin At (Doug McNair) late. No Control finished third.

BETTOR B BOLD REPLAY

Better B Bold made one start at two, finishing second in a Gold, and resumed this season. His Saturday win comes off the back of a 21-day rest after a break in the first Gold leg. He has earned $90,204 and won twice in five career starts. Shawn Steacy trains the colt for Mark Steacy of Lansdowne, David Reid of Sydenham, Landmark 15 Racing Stable of Lansdowne, and BC Reichheld Stables of Caldeonia.

The card saw Linedrive Hanover (Betting Line) defending his crown in the $54,000 Free For All Handicap. In a repeat nearly identical to his Jul. 1 win, the gelding took an early lead, let Warrawee Vital take over in the second quarter, and defeated him in a stretch duel to win by a half-length in 1:49.1. To complete the repeat from Jul. 1, Poseidon Seelster (McClure) finished third. The only difference was 2 1/5 seconds and a quarter-length in the winning margin.

LINEDRIVE HANOVER REPLAY

Linedrive Hanover, who has raced strongly since returning from injury this year, is now 13-for-22 lifetime. The five-year-old races for trainer Tony Beaton and owners West Wins Stable of Wellington, McKinlay and Fielding of Toronto, and Mac Nichol of Burlington.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink