$189,100 in series finals at Mohawk

Harness racing sophomores battled in the finals of the Ontario-sired Spring Series, worth a combined $189,100, at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Apr. 27).

Convoy Hall (Muscle Mass) remained undefeated in the $43,600 division for trotting males. The gelding made it six-for-six in his debut season as he completed a give-and-go on the backstretch and powered to a 1:55.2 victory from there for Sylvain Filion. Captain Wania (Trevor Henry) finished second with more than two lengths between him and The Canam Banker (Tyler Borth) in third.

CONVOY HALL REPLAY

Bob McIntosh trains the winning gelding, who lowered his lifetime mark in the victory. Convoy Hall has now earned $65,800 for owners Robert McIntosh Stables, Douglas John McIntosh, Randy Liepa, and Beverley Snobelen.

Kinnder Hotblood (Kadabra, James MacDonald) captured the $43,900 filly trot final, marching by pacesetter Lexus Angel (Henry) after a first-over advance for a two-and-three-quarter-length score in 1:54.3. Lexus Angel was the only horse in her post code as show finisher Hallie Intheclouds (Jody Jamieson) was 10 lengths back.

KINNDER HOTBLOOD REPLAY

Kinnder Hotblood is now three-for-nine after back-to-back wins. Saturday’s win was a new career-best time for the Matt Bax-trained filly, an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots winner at two. She has amassed earnings of $48,063 for the ownership group of Bax Stable, David Hudson, Gaelic Stable 2, and The Cavalier Stable.

Lightning Lizzie (Betterthancheddar, Filion) went three-for-three in her career with an eight-length crush in the $49,000 final for pacing fillies. She brushed off a parked-out challenger and began to separate from the rest on the final turn, soaring to an eight-length victory in 1:52. Right Match (Tyler Jones) was best of the rest. Catch My Breath (MacDonald) finished third.

LIGHTNING LIZZIE REPLAY

Lightning Lizzie has won all three starts for trainer Murray Brethour for earnings of $42,000. Brethour co-owns the filly with Glenn Tarver, Bruce Northover, and Jason Churhcill.

Warraweeforlaura (All Bets Off, Borth) came to the outside at the top of the stretch and stormed home to win the $52,600 colt and gelding pace division. He went clear after striking the front in mid-stretch and finished two lengths ahead of the closing Chalk Hanover (MacDonald). Price Control (Roy) closed from last to third.

WARRAWEEFORLAURA

Warraweeforlaura is now four-for-six at three with $60,910 in earnings after a winless rookie season. He lowered his mark with the latest victory for trainer Frank Baker. Baker shares ownership in the gelding with Borth and William Stevenson.

Whatchulookin At (Hes Watching) got up late in a photo finish to win the third leg of the Canadian-sired Graduate Series for pacers. The Dave Menary-trained gelding surged from fourth coming down the stretch and eclipsed No Control (Filion) at the wine with a :25.3 last quarter for the victory in 1:50.1. Write Me A Rose (Doug McNair) led most of the way and was beaten by a half-length in third.

WHATCHULOOKIN AT REPLAY

It was the first win for Whatchulookin At since his Simcoe Stakes victory in September 2023. Dave Menary trains the gelding, now a seven-time winner from 29 starts, for Pollack Racing. The four-year-old has earned $318,482.

In the night’s $32,000 Preferred-2, Emmetts Buddy (In The Irons, Borth) came first-up turning for home and soared down the stretch to take his second win from three starts on the season in 1:50.3. He beat pocket-tripper Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) by a length-and-a-half. Dupree (McNair) completed the ticket.

EMMETTS BUDDY REPLAY

Emmetts Buddy, a Manitoba-sired, -bred, and -trained gelding, rose to the Preferred ranked at Woodbine Mohawk Park last fall and became the first horse from the province to break 1:50 on Aug. 26. He is now 21-for-55 lifetime with $317,719 earnings. Michael Kwietniowski trains the five-year-old for owner/breeder Arthur Rey.

Racing resumes at Woodbine Mohawk Park at 7:10 p.m. EDT on Monday, Apr. 29. The feature of the 10-race card will be the $32,000 Preferred-2 Trot.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink