24-1 upset in Harvest Series

Scratchin An Itch (Sunfire Blue Chip) went from seventh-to-first and produced the fastest mile of leg two of the Ontario-sired Harvest Series for two-year-old harness racing colts and geldings on Thursday (Oct. 31) at a rainy Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The gelding, in contrast to his speed try in leg one, took back and sat seventh to the quarter. He advanced on cover down the backstretch, dropped into the pocket on the last turn, and came out again to fire between rivals in the stretch and win by a half-length in 1:54. Shining Moment (Louis-Philippe Roy) was a game second after taking the lead down the lane. Bruno No No No (Bob McClure) was third.

SCRATCHIN AN ITCH REPLAY

Scratchin An Itch, trained by Scott McNiven, has now won two of his last three. He finished sixth in leg one but was beaten only four lengths and led in mid-stretch.  He is now two-for-12 with $31,975 in earnings for owner/breeders Lenore and Eric Prince.

Hp Bellissimo (Sportswriter, Roy) converted as the even money favourite in the first pacing division. The gelding quarter-poled to take over going down the backside and led all the way from there, neutralizing two chasers in the stretch to win by a length-and-a-half in 1:54.2. Allstar Bruiser (Mike Saftic) finished second, holding off Hide The Wick (Doug McNair).

HP BELLISSIMO REPLAY

Hp Bellissimo, a runner-up in his division’s Coupe de l’Avenir  earlier this season, has won twice in nine appearances and has earned $40,740. Chantal Mitchell trains the gelding for Claude Hamel and Jean Denis Pelletier.

Move Your Mass (Muscle Mass, McClure) took the only trotting division, hunting down Jayport Cash (Roy) from the pocket for a two-length victory in 1:56.3. Jayport Cash came home second with Royal Life (Trevor Henry) third.

MOVE YOUR MASS REPLAY

Move Your Mass is riding a three-race win streak and has tallied five trips to the winner’s circle in 12 attempts. Bruce MacDonald has trained the freshman to $41,780 in earnings for Mardon Stables.

The two-year-old colts and geldings will contest their Harvest Series final on Nov. 7.

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink