Tough Taurasi makes it a grand slam

Taurasi (Racing Hill) returned from a three-week absence to extend his harness racing winning streak in the Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park to four on Saturday (Jan. 27).

The gelding got away fourth under the guidance of Doug McNair as Poseidon Seelster (Tyler Moore) cut a first quarter of :26.4. Taurasi followed Codename Cigar Box (Travis Cullen) to the outside on the backstretch but came uncovered when the latter cleared to the front at the half in :56.

Taurasi, left first-over, trudged on through three-quarters in 1:23.4 and turned for home with two-and-a-half lengths to make up. He began to cut down the gap immediately and pulled alongside Codename Cigar Box in mid-stretch. Codename Cigar Box prolonged the battle, but Taurasi proved best and got up by a half-length in 1:51.3.

Codename Cigar Box secured second. Cold Creek Queso (Jody Jamieson) was third.

TAURASI REPLAY

Taurasi has now won four straight Preferreds at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He arrived at the track for the winter season in December after spending much of the season competing in Grand Circuit events. Richard Moreau trains the gelding in Canada for owners Brad Grant of Milton and Alagna Racing of Jackson. The five-year-old is now 14-for-33 with $437,321 in earnings.

In the finale, 53-1 longshot Taylors Credit (Up The Credit, Natasha Day) sparked a massive Super Hi-5 payoff. The seven-year-old gelding, who was rising in class after a third in his yearly debut, slingshotted to victory off cover and scored in 1:54.4 by three-quarters-of-a-length over Beachin Lindy (Brett MacDonald). The Hi-5 combo returned $227,435.95 for a $1 base — $45,487 for $0.20.

TAYLORS CREDIT REPLAY

The next race week at Woodbine Mohawk Park will begin on Monday, Jan. 29 at 7:10 p.m. The feature among the 11 races will be the $36,000 Preferred Trot.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink