Five-star MacDonald performance

Harness racing driver James MacDonald took five victories at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (Jan. 11), upping his seasonal win rate past 30 per cent.

He started the night with a victory at the lines of Windsun Diego (All Bets Off). The gelding fought for the front, battled off a challenger on the far turn, and held on to win by a neck in 1:56.1. It was a maiden-breaking win for the four-year-old, who is trained by Murray Brethour for Windsun Farm.

WINDSUN DIEGO REPLAY

MacDonald doubled up with Hillbilly Jet (Ponder) in the second, landing the mare a second straight win to start the season in 1:55.4. The 10-year-old is now 32-for-230 in her career.

HILLBILLY JET REPLAY

The reinsman then guided Waitinonawoman (Custard The Dragon) to victory in the mare’s yearly debut. He sent the mare first-over on the far turn and caught brief cover, then rallied her past battling leaders to score in 1:55.3. Waitinonawoman’s tally was her sixth in 35 lifetime outings. Jodie Cullen trains the four-year-old for Travis, Jodie, and Ronald Cullen of Dundas.

WAITINONAWOMAN REPLAY

Proud Of My Roots (Vertical Horizon) was MacDonald’s fourth winner. He sent her to the lead in the second quarter, and the five-year-old held off Marina Del Rey (Louis-Philippe Roy)to win a stretch duel by a nose in 1:56.4. The Richard Moreau-trained mare has now won nine of her 55 lifetime starts and has earned $73,306.

PROUD OF MY ROOTS REPLAY

MacDonald closed his account in the ninth race as his charge Goldies Rockin (Rockin Image) vaulted to the lead from the pocket and snagged the victory in 1:54.4. The win also gave Moreau a triple on the night. Goldies Rockin, owned by N. Yolanda Fellows and Domenic and Anthony Chiaravalle, is now 15-for-70 lifetime.

GOLDIES ROCKIN REPLAY

MacDonald has won 18 of his first 57 starts this season, a strike rate of 31.6 per cent. The driver, who has won 400 races at Woodbine Mohawk Park two years in a row, leads the standings in 2024 by 10. He is nominated for his third straight O’Brien Award for Driver of the Year.

Racing will continue at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7:10 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink