Stakes winner makes victorious three-year-old debut

Soar Higher (Resolve), an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner and Super Finalist at two, won his sophomore harness racing debut on Thursday (Apr. 25) at Woodbine Mohawk Park

James MacDonald settled him into the four-hole to the quarter in :28.1 before commencing a backstretch brush. The gelding reached the front before the half in :58.1 and continued to three-quarters in 1:28.1 with little opposition. Pocket-sitter King Fury (Trevor Henry) stayed with him down the stretch, but Soar Higher stayed in flight and completed the victory in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4. Salem Seelster (Louis-Philippe Roy) closed for show.

SOAR HIGHER REPLAY

Soar Higher was one-for-10 at two, with his only win in an Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold, but he hit the board in three other Gold legs and earned $233,548. The Matt Bax trainee also earned cheques in the William Wellwood Memorial and OSS Super Final. Bax Stable of Campbellville owns the sophomore with Brad Grant of Milton, David Hudson of Dallas, and Harbor Racing Stable of Uxbridge.

Another OSS Super Finalist, Masstercraft (Muscle Mass) blew his rivals away in his three-year-old debut in the evening’s opener in a maiden-breaking score. The colt, who finished in the money in four Ontario Sires Stakes Gold legs last year, went all the way on the front for Trevor Henry. After setting fractions of :27.4, :58.2, and 1:28.1, he hit the gas and left the field behind, streaking away to win by five lengths in 1:56.1. Maestro Seelster (Bob McClure) was second over Buttinski (Todd Ratchford).

MASSTERCRAFT REPLAY

Masstercraft was a stakes competitor throughout his rookie season but came away winless in nine outings. The Kyle Bossence-trained sophomore has now earned $90,092 in 10 lifetime starts. Steven Colvin of Hanover owns the colt.

Another sire stakes finalist, Alritealritealrite (Lazarus N, Louis-Philippe Roy), broke his maiden later on the card. The colt, who placed in the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) Final last year, grinded first-up from the half, went to the lead in mid-stretch, and held off a flood of horses to prevail by a head in 1:53.4. Bet On Sunshine (James MacDonald) closed for second off a third-over trip. Dab Ocolor (Sylvain Filion) completed the ticket.

ALRITEALRITEALRITE REPLAY

Alritealritealrite is now one-for-nine with $92,595 in earnings. Zach Carroll has trained the colt for his Canadian starts. The homebred for Karen Carroll, in addition to his second in the NJSS Final, earned cheques in several other stakes events at two.

Roy and MacDonald both won three races on the night.

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Apr. 26 at 7:10 p.m. EDT. The 11-race card will feature the third legs of the Canadian-sired Graduate Series for the four-year-old pacing mare and four-year-old open trot divisions.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink