MacDonald scores six

James MacDonald, Woodbine Mohawk Park’s reigning four-time leading harness racing driver, shot to the front of the standings with a six-win night on Friday (Jan. 3).

The highlight of his performance came with So Much More (Big Jim) as he guided the three-time O’Brien Award-winner to victory in her first start of the year. MacDonald sat the mare fourth to the quarter in :27.1 and pulled her off the pylons midway down the backstretch.

So Much More raced alongside leader Century Jamila (Jonathan Drury) as they reached the half in :56.1, and those two battled nose-to-nose to three-quarters in 1:24. So Much More slingshotted to the front off the turn and led into the final eighth of a mile, when Blue Pacific (Bob McClure) split through traffic and rolled up at the rail. She looked poised to go by, but So Much More dug in and held on to win by a head in 1:52.4.

Glenboro (Travis Cullen) was third).

SO MUCH MORE REPLAY

So Much More was five-for-26 last season, the first since 2018 in which she won fewer than 10 races. The Don Beatson-trained mare, now nine, has racked up 76 career victories and $1,721,827 in 185 starts. Beatson co-owns the mare with Ken Beatson of Palgrave and Cole England of Exeter.

MacDonald opened his account in race two with Mikki Sixx (Always B Miki), the four-year-old mare’s ninth win in 12 lifetime appearances. He then guided two horses to maiden-breaking victories, winning with Neverlose Felix (International Moni) in 2:00 in race four and Topville Checkmein (Check Six) in race five. The reinsman made it three straight in race six with Western Wish (Betterthancheddar) in 1:53.3 and completed the six-win performance in the finale, driving Lyons Bettorday (Bettors Delight) to the mare’s 10th lifetime score.

MacDonald, who tallied a double on opening night, is now eight-for-20 on the season.

Woodbine Mohawk Park’s next card on Saturday, Jan. 4 will feature a Preferred Pace. Racing will kick off at 6:30 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink