Eye-catching performances in SBOA elims

Both winners, making their seasonal debuts, smashed their previous bests in the SBOA Stakes eliminations for harness racing trotting males on Friday (May 12) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Osceola (Muscle Mass, Doug McNair) stormed home in a fiery final eighth of a mile to capture the first elimination. The gelding was seven lengths back and uncovered turning for home. But he caught fire at the eighth pole, sprinted past pacesetter What An Angel (Louis-Philippe Roy) and rallying pocket-sitter Darbyshire (Jody Jamieson), and got home faster than fellow closer Hasty Bid (James MacDonald) for the victory in 1:53.1. Hasty Bid missed by a head, and Darbyshire passed What An Angel for third. Lava Field (Eddie Green) was fifth.

OSCEOLA REPLAY

Osceola won three Ontario Sires Stakes Golds last season and reached the Breeders Crown final. The colt was making his seasonal debut in the elimination for trainer Gregg McNair, who co-owns him with Willow Oak Ranch of Rogersville and Paul Hawman of Collingwood. The three-year-old is now four-for-11 with $188,278 in earnings.

Tuscan Prince (Kadabra, Roy) one-upped Osceola by going three-fifths quicker in the second elimination while stepping to victory. The colt was cruising on the lead entering the stretch, but Passarino (Jamieson) attacked up the inside as they headed for home. Passarino trotted strongly to the wire and appeared to collar the leader, but Tuscan Prince shrugged him off and pulled away again to prevail by a half-length in 1:52.3. Passarino finished second. Snowpiercer (Paul MacDonell), Musical Ride (Sylvain Filion), and Lite The Candles (Bob McClure) finished three-four-five.

TUSCAN PRINCE REPLAY

Tuscan Prince graduated to the Golds at the end of last year after beginning in the Grassroots. He won one leg and completed the campaign with three wins in 10 outings. Luc Blais trains the gelding, an earner of $133,725, for Determination.

The finals of the SBOA Stakes are set for Saturday, May 20. The event is for Ontario-sired three-year-olds.

Also on the card, Mollop Hanover (Betting Line) paced in 1:50 in her third career start to remain unbeaten. The filly, who debuted on Apr. 20, dashed past Starlight Dancer (Jamieson) to win the conditioned event by three-quarters of a length. Mollop Hanover, trained by Anthony Beaton, is perfect through three and has earned $27,000. West Wins Stable of Wellington, Dumain Haven Farm of Pine Bush, and Eric Good of Davidsonville own the three-year-old.

MOLLOP HANOVER REPLAY

Woodbine Mohawk Park will feature two Preferred-2 Paces on its Saturday (May 13) card, beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink