Green Manalishi gets first stakes winner at Mohawk

Galen Erso became sire Green Manalishi’s first stakes-winning offspring as the Marcus Melander-bred harness racing colt captured the second $95,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division for two-year-old trotting males on Tuesday (Jul. 9) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Under the guidance of Doug McNair, Galen Erso went from fourth at the quarter in :28.4 to the front at the half in :58.2. He led around the turn and through three-quarters in 1:27.4  and sparred down the stretch with the first-over Artful Dodger (Sylvain Filion). Artful Dodger cut the lead down to three-quarters-of-a-length but could do no more as Galen Erso reached the line in front in 1:56.1. Chicago Hall (James MacDonald) finished third.

GALEN ERSO REPLAY

The victory came in Galen Erso’s second lifetime try after a third in his debut in the Tompkins-Geers on Jun. 28. Gregg McNair now trains him for Melander, who owns the colt.

Lmc Wagon Wheel (Wheeling N Dealin) circled from third-over to capture the first division. Pat Hudon had the gelding fifth in a strung-out field and moved him onto cover as the backfield advanced on the final turn. Lmc Wagon Wheel kicked home and soared by the leaders, then holding off the closing Getthegreen (Roger Mayotte) to win in 1:57.4. Gravenhurst (Filion), who struck the front in mid-stretch, completed the ticket.

LMC WAGON WHEEL REPLAY

Lmc Wagon Wheel is now one-for-three with $49,420 in earnings. Hudon trains and drives the freshman, who finished third on debut but broke early second time out. Frank Cirillo of Kleinburg owns the gelding.

The card also saw a harness racing rarity in a double-promotion to win. In the second Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots split for two-year-old pacing fillies, Forrest Leah (Bettors Delight-Lady Jake, John Thomson) was racing sixth into the lane and stormed home despite being cut off to get up for third in 1:56.4. First-place finisher Lady Gambler (Louis-Philippe Roy) was disqualified for a pylon violation, and Gooned Again (Trevor Henry) was disinherited from the win after being found to have interfered with Forrest Leah.

Gooned Again kept second with Hp Top Modele (Filion) third. The winner is trained by Thomson and owned by him and Larry Todd. She is now two-for-two with $12,350 in earnings.

FORREST LEAH REPLAY

The other division winners were:

Chantilly (Big Jim-Shiraz Seelster, James MacDonald) by four-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:54 for trainer Nick Gallucci and owner/breeder Millar Farms. Mystic Moment (Filion) second and Highland Delight (Doug McNair) third.

Tricky Wicky (Mcwicked-Dobre Povedane, Jody Jamieson) by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:54.1 for trainer Rene Dion and owner/breeders David and John Prushnok. Ava Seelster (Doug McNair) second and Foreverafterall (MacDonald) third.

Saddlebags (Control The Moment-Twin B Virtue) by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:56.3 for trainer Dave Menary and owners Menary Racing, Larry Menary, Ryan Morefield, Denise Guerriero. My Gelato (Filion) second and Ithadtobeyou (MacDonald) third.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will host more Ontario Sires Stakes competition in the first leg for two-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday, Jul. 11. First post is listed as 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink