MacDonald takes five at Mohawk

James MacDonald added another five victories to extend his lead in the national harness racing drivers’ standings on Friday (Oct. 6) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

He opened his account in the first, rallying St Lads Dark Angel (Control The Moment) from seven lengths back in mid-stretch to get up by a head in 1:54. The filly had stalled first-over but reignited in the stretch to take the victory in her first start back from the United States. The Ontario-sired sophomore was racing at Tioga Downs for trainer Daniel Gassien and owner Jemaxpo Racing Stable of Wellington until Sep. 22.

ST LADS DARK ANGEL REPLAY

MacDonald doubled up with Peeler (Bettors Delight) in the second. The rookie filly took the lead twice, but Pam (Jody Jamieson) brushed to the top prior to the half. Peeler emerged from the pocket down the lane, worked past Pam, and held off the surging Silent Lucidity (Louis-Philippe Roy) by a head in 1:53. It was a maiden-breaking win for the Robert McIntosh-trained filly, who had lost her first 10 starts. Robert McIntosh Stables of Windsor owns her with co-breeder Al McIntosh Holdings of Leamington and Frank Baldachino of Harvey Cedars.

PEELER REPLAY

Goudawon (Betterthancheddar) gave MacDonald his third win in the fifth race, soaring home off a third-over ride to score by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:51.4. The Thomas Riley-trained mare, an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner, now has 11 lifetime wins and $236,324 in earnings from 49 career starts. The four-year-old races for Brenda and Mark Lane of Roseneath and Anthony Lane of Peterborough.

GOUDAWON REPLAY

MacDonald went wire-to-wire behind The Lionking As (Lionhunter) to take the ninth. The eight-year-old’s win was his 29th lifetime in 196 outings, and it raised his lifetime bankroll to $444,511. Boyd Wilson conditions the gelding for Mark Burns of Mississauga.

THE LIONKING AS REPLAY

The reinsman secured the five-star performance with a victory in the nightcap as he hustled Saldana Hanover (Captaintreacherous) home to win by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:52.2. The three-year-old filly has won two straight and is three-for-13 lifetime. Anthony Montini trains her for Big Als Stables of Woodbridge.

SALDANA HANOVER REPLAY

MacDonald’s top rival for the nation’s dash-winning title, Tyler Borth, tallied once on the evening. MacDonald now leads 336-326.

Woodbine Mohawk Park concludes its race week on Saturday, Oct. 7 with a 12-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Jimmy Freight Stakes. The action will kick off at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink