All the OSS action from Canada Day weekend

Canada Day weekend is in the rearview mirror, and we have a recap of all the Ontario Sire Stakes (OSS) harness racing action.

Glamour Boys Shine on Saturday at Mohawk

Midnight Nation (Betterthancheddar) was a breakthrough winner on Saturday night, winning the first of two $101,300 Gold divisions for three-year-old male pacers in Leg One of their OSS season.

Trevor Henry and Midnight Nation sat off the pace set by Moment Is Here and eventually found room to fly home in 25.3 and win by a nose. He paid $54 for the win.

“They all moved out, and you move up,” said Henry. “It just worked out, everyone came off the rail and just got lucky.”

Midnight Nation is owned by Shaun Vallee, and D P V Racing. The $50,200 winner’s check moved his career earnings over $90,000.

Bob McIntosh homebred Moment Is Here was the runner-up. McIntosh trains and co-owns the All Bets Off son with Al McIntosh Holdings Inc, Frank Baldachino, and Mardon Stables. It’s his fourth on the board finish in six OSS starts good for over $150,000 in OSS earnings.

The third-place finisher was Verdun who held his own stepping up from the conditioned ranks at Mohawk. The Roland Trudel homebred now has five on the board finishes in eight starts this season.

In the second division, in race eight, Stockade Seelster (State Treasurer) continued his undefeated OSS career, with his sixth win in as many starts and pushing his OSS earnings to over $380,000.

Jody Jamieson sent him to the front from post five and he was able to hold off a hard charging No Control for a narrow victory.

“The three-year-old pacing colt division in Ontario Sires Stakes is the best in the world,” said Jamieson. “When I pressed the gas around the far turn, we were full out the rest of the way. He dug in and stuck his neck out there late to win. I was real proud of him.”

Stockade Seelster was making his first start as a millionaire for owner’s Sally and Paul MacDonald, after crossing the barrier in his Pepsi North America Cup consolation victory. The Dr. Ian Moore trainee will now set his sights on the Meadowlands Pace.

No Control (Control The Moment) continued his strong season for trainer Tan Micallef with his runner-up result. Micallef co-owns the gelding with Keira Liberte and Ian Clarke. He now has over $67,000 in earnings against Ontario sired foes after sweeping the Ontario Sired Spring Series in April.

Whatchulookin At rounded out the podium. Co-owned by his trainer Gregg McNair and Jim Newton, Bloomingwood Farms, and Paul L Kidd he has earned over $90,000 in five career OSS starts.

Southwind Chardnay Continues Strong Season in Grassroots Trotting Action

Resolve filly Southwind Chardnay led gate to wire in race four on Monday at Woodbine Mohawk Park, a $22,600 Grassroots division for sophomore trotting fillies, in Leg Two of their OSS season.

The win improves her 2023 record to 3-1-3 from 12 starts, and she has taken full advantage of the Ontario Sired racing opportunities, with a pair of Grassroots starts, two Ontario Sired Spring Series starts, and two additional efforts in the Grassroots starter class, all at Mohawk.

She is trained by Vernon Cochrane and owned by Saulsbrook Stables Inc.

The other $22,400 Grassroots division was won by Northern Charlotte (Muscle Mass) for Team Christoforou.

The filly trotted home in an impressive 27.4 to pick up the $11,200 winner’s cheque, and establish a new lifetime mark of 1:55.3. It was her first Grassroots start of the season for owner Brad Grant, and her fifth on the board finish through 9 total starts this year.

For complete Saturday race results, click here.

For complete Monday race results, click here.

by Austin Stanton, for the Ontario Sires Stakes