Harness racing driver Tyler Borth engineered two come-from behind victories to win both Ontario-sired Harvest Series Finals for two-year-old colts and geldings on Thursday (Nov. 9) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Borth drove Goober Smack (Flanagan Memory) in the final for trotters, with the colt seeking a series sweep. He slid him into seventh from post 10 and kept him on the pylons until sending him three-wide around the last turn, the second one to do so as the first-up horse backed up. Goober Smack remained three-wide and turned on the jets as the field straightened for home, picking off horses rapidly, and flew to a 1:58.2 victory. P L Robert G (James MacDonald) made it a close with a late-stretch burst and closed to within a half-length of the winner. Lmc Mr Squishy (Pat Hudon) set the pace and finished third.
GOOBER SMACK REPLAY
Goober Smack has a three-for-four record and $44,250 in earnings after sweeping the Harvest Series. S&R Racing Stable of Acton owns him and Susanne Kerwood trains the colt that she co-bred.
Borth then got Stonebridge Thrill (Bettors Delight) home in the pacing event. The colt sat outside sixth through the first half and advanced on cover into the final turn. Stonebridge Thrill made up nine lengths in the third quarter and rolled on to take the lead at the eighth-pole. Trophy Taker (Jody Jamieson) looked to hunt him down after taking his cover, but he missed by a neck as Stonebridge Thrill held on to win in 1:55.2Ā Max Patrick (Sylvain Filion) was third.
STONEBRIDGE THRILL REPLAY
Stonebridge Thrill went back-to-back to win the second preliminary leg and the final. He was winless in his six prior starts, including four in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots. The colt finished third in the Grassroots Final in his last start before transferring to trainer Meg Crone. He has now earned $54,126 for owners Mac and Carol Nichol of Burlington.
Woodbine Mohawk Park will host more Harvest Series action with the first leg for three-year-old pacing fillies on Friday, Nov. 10. The 11-race card will also feature a $36,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred. First post is set for 7:10 p.m. EST.
For complete race results, click here.
by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink