$211,300 Ontario Series finals at Mohawk

Woodbine Mohawk Park played host to four harness racing finals of the Ontario Sired Spring Series Saturday evening.

The first race saw the $48,400 final for three-year-old trotting fillies and Hang On Baby ($5.20) and driver Sylvain Filion wanting the early lead but Make It Easy and driver James MacDonald said no, parking them out first-over to the quarter in :26.3, the half mile in :56 and then she went off-stride.

That allowed Hang On Baby to have the lead by the three-quarters in 1:25.1. Filion then let the daughter of Muscle Mass have her head and she tore off to win in a romp by six and one-quarter lengths in a lifetime best 1:54.3. Makin Magic Tonite (Bob McClure) was second with All About Addie (Chris Christoforou) third.

It was a clean sweep of the series for Hang On Baby. She now sports seven wins in eleven starts this year for trainer John Kennedy and owners Ralph & Sandra Pitt of Cargill, ON.

HANG ON BABY REPLAY

The second race featured the $54,100 final for three-year-old pacing colts that saw a mild upset as Addictivebehaviour ($9.60) won for driver Louis-Philippe Roy.

Girl In A Tavern (Bob McClure) was first in the lead to the opening quarter mile in :27.2. Then Roy came with Addictivebehaviour and they cleared to take command before the half mile in :56.3. They were challenged first-over by Fromakingtoaqueen (Doug McNair), who gave live outside cover to the race favorite, Wildcat Star (Trevor Henry) by the three-quarters in 1:24.4.

As they came down the stretch there was no catching Addictivebehaviour as the daughter of Bettor’s Delight won with ease by one and one-quarter lengths in a lifetime best 1:53. Girl In A Tavern was second with Wildcat Star third.

It was the second straight win for Brett Lester trainee. She is owned by Mickey Sudar and Arpad Szabo.

ADDICTIVEBEHAVIOUR REPLAY

The sixth race was the $52,600 final for three-year-old trotting colts and the spotlight belonged to Tymal Tiggs, who took a lifetime mark with an upset win.

It was Guinness (Paul MacDonnell) first on the lead with Resolute Bay (Bob McClure) getting the two-hole trip to the first quarter in :28.2. Then Century Invader (James MacDonald), the 4/5 favorite, came first-over and gave good cover to Tymal Tiggs and driver Louis-Philippe Roy to the half in :58.4.

But Century Invader cleared to the lead and left Tyal Tiggs parked out first-over to the three-quarters in 1:26.4. Not to be denied, Tymal Tiggs dug in and took on Century Invader, edging by in the stretch to win by a half length in a lifetime best 1:55.

It was the second win this year for the gelded son of Muscle Mass. He is trained by Jean Tourigny for owner Jean Mondoux of Laval, Quebec. He paid $16.10 to win.

TYMAL TIGGS REPLAY

The final final was the $56,200 final for three-year-old pacing colts that saw Chucky Hanover ($8.60) tip three-wide on the final turn and gun down both Sport Secret and Ontop Rainman.

Chucky Hanover and driver Paul MacDonnell were parked out but made the early lead by the first quarter in :28 with Ontop Rainman (Michael Whelan) sitting second. By the half mile in :56.2, Sport Secret and driver Doug McNair brushed to the lead.

Then Final Cheeserecipe (Sylvain Filion) came first-over and mixed into the fray as MacDonnell backed out from the pocket with Chucky Hanover and came three-wide at the three-quarters in 1:24.1.

Chucky Hanover then flew by the race leaders in the stretch to win by two and one-half lengths in a lifetime best clocking of 1:52.2. Sport Secret was second with Ontop Rainman third.

Sired by He’s Watching, it was a clean sweep of the series and the third straight win for Chucky Hanover. He is trained by Paul MacDonnell for the GLB Stable of Lakeview, NS.

CHUCKY HANOVER REPLAY

Jimmy Freight ($3.40) posted his fourth straight win and eighth of the season with an easy two length triumph in the 9^th race, the $39,000 Free For All pace. Driven by Louis-Philippe Roy, Jimmy Freight is trained by Richard Moreau for owner Adriano Sorella of Guelph, ON. His winning time was 1:49.1. Undrthsouthrnsun N (Austin Sorrie) was second with Wheels On Fire (Doug McNair) third.

For complete race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink