Top Mohawk trotter makes it three straight

Amigo Volo (Father Patrick) extended his reign over Ontario’s best harness racing trotters as he won his third consecutive $36,000 Preferred at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday (Nov. 11).

The two-time Breeders Crown champion, starting at the rail, allowed two rivals past off the gate and sat third to the quarter in :28 before making his move to the front. He seized command at the half in :56.2 and cruised to three-quarters in 1:25.2 unchallenged, turning for home on top.

Safe Conduct (Chris Christoforou) chased from the pocket, and Fashion Frenzie (Louis-Philippe Roy) gained late at the cones, but Amigo Volo was in control and crossed the line a length-and-a-quarter winner in 1:52.4.

Safe Conduct held on for place over Fashion Frenzie.

AMIGO VOLO REPLAY

The victory was Amigo Volo’s 10th of the season. The gelding spent time in the United States this year with visits to Kentucky, New York, and Pennsylvania, and has won four of five for Meg Crone since returning in September. The seven-year-old has earned $2,650,252 and won 42 times in 108 career starts for Pinske Stables of Plato and David Miller of Lake Mary.

Earlier on the card, Ma Isabelle (Alarm Detector) won the sole division of the first Ontario-sired Harvest Series leg for three-year-old trotting fillies. Locked in third at the top of the  lane, Bob McClure slid the filly out in mid-stretch, and she sprinted past three rivals to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:58.

Hope N Glory (Jody Jamieson) passed P L Rachel (Tyler Borth) to take second.

MA ISABELLE REPLAY

Ma Isabelle is now two-for-17 since debuting this season for trainer Shane Weber. She broke her maiden two back and increased her bankroll to $43,650 with Monday’s win. Tom and Elizabeth Rankin of St. Catharines own and bred the filly.

2019 Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade (Kadabra) earned his first win in more than two years on the card. The stallion, winless in two previous tries this season, pounced from the pocket and soared clear by two-and-a-quarter lengths to win the lower-level conditioned event. He stopped the clock in 1:54.3 for Louis-Philippe Roy.

FORBIDDEN TRADE REPLAY

Forbidden Trade was off almost exactly a year until qualifying last month. The Luc Blais-trained stallion was retired to stud last season but raced five times that fall. His last win came in September 2022 in the Mohawk Open. He has now won 26 times in 68 career starts and has earned $2,387,275.

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink