Cloud nine for Taurasi

Taurasi (Racing Hill) defeated Preferred-Handicap rival Emmetts Buddy for a ninth consecutive victory at the top of Canada’s top harness racing pacing ranks at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Apr. 20).

Taurasi was stung in the first quarter of :27.1 while climbing to the front, which he reached for Doug McNair as the field came down the backstretch. Emmetts Buddy sat the pocket for Tyler Borth as Taurasi cut middle half splits of :56.2 and 1:24.1 with Whichwaytothebeach approaching first-over.

Whichwaytothebeach (Sylvain Filion) sustained his bid into the stretch, but he flattened out as Taurasi scooted away by a pair of lengths. Emmetts Buddy took the baton in the final eighth of a mile and advanced at the pylons, but Taurasi was too good and held him off by three-quarters-of-a-length to prevail in 1:51.

Emmetts Buddy was a game second. Poseidon Seelster (Bob McClure) grabbed third off a second-over ride.

TAURASI REPLAY

Taurasi has won nine straight Preferreds at Woodbine Mohawk Park, including all seven of his starts in 2024. The gelding, a Grand Circuit competitor throughout last season, arrived at Richard Moreau’s barn in December for winter racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He is 19-for-38 lifetime and has earned $527,321. Brad Grant of Milton co-owns the five-year-old with Alagna Racing of Jackson.

Tells On A Roll (Tellitlikeitis) captured the co-featured Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace to make it six-for-seven on the year. The mare went wire-to-wire, opening up a big lead in the stretch before cruising to a 1:51.4 score. Double O’Brien Award winner So Much More (James MacDonald) was second over Style For A Mile (McNair).

TELLS ON A ROLL REPLAY

The mare, an Indiana Sires Stakes champion last season, has 15 wins in 33 lifetime starts and $465,006 in the bank. Owners Paul Sanders of Surrey and A1stable and Ron Cullen of Dundas acquired her in November and brought her to Woodbine Mohawk Park. Jodie Cullen conditions the four-year-old.

Also on the card, Write Me A Rose (Sportswriter, McNair) won his second straight leg of the Canadian-sired Graduate Series to stay perfect in the competition. The stallion took the lead going to the half and held it the rest of the way, taking the victory in 1:51.2 with McNair aboard. No Control (Sylvain Filion) was second with Whatchulookin At (James MacDonald) third.

WRITE ME A ROSE REPLAY

The win improved the four-year-old’s lifetime stats to nine wins and a $412,728 bankroll in 31 starts. Kyle Fellows trains the Windermere Stable homebred.

The third leg of the Canadian-sired Graduate Series for open pacers is set for Saturday, Apr. 27. The finals of all three divisions will be contested on May 4.

Woodbine Mohawk Park hosts racing next on Monday, Apr. 22. The 11-race card, starting at 7:10 p.m. EDT, will feature a $36,000 Preferred Trot.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink