Green Manalishi sweeps $190,000 OSS Gold leg

Two offspring from the first crop of Green Manalishi won their Ontario Sires Stakes harness racing debuts in $95,000 divisions of the first leg for rookie trotting fillies on Friday (Jul. 11) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Monalishi was the first winner in a 12-1 upset with Jody Jamieson manning the reins. The filly was at the quarter first in :28.3 before allowing Exquisite Taste (Louis-Philippe Roy) to take over coming onto the backstretch. The latter put up :58.2 and 1:27.3 middle panels with little opposition.

Monalishi shifted into open racetrack at the top of the lane, crossed swords with Exquisite Taste into mid-stretch, and motored clear by two-and-a-half lengths to break her maiden in 1:55.3.

Exquisite Taste proved second best. Lil Sweet was the third of four horses to remain on stride and completed the triactor.

MONALISHI REPLAY

Monalishi debuted two weeks back in the Tompkins-Geers, breaking stride at the start. The Blake Macintosh-trained filly won both of her qualifiers, including one in 2:00. Macintosh, a resident of St. George, co-owns the $28,000 Harrisburg purchase with Tim Klemencic of Trenton.

Baden Baden produced another upset, flying home to victory in the second split. Tyler Jones brought the filly out second-over coming around the far turn, and Baden Baden unfurled her wings from the backfield. She soared by six horses down the lane and pushed her margin out to one-and-a-half lengths in the 1:57.2. victory.

Sprite Seelster (Tyler Borth), who sat the pocket, finished second, and The Green Book (Trevor Henry) was third. This completed a one-two-three finish for Green Manalishi offspring.

BADEN BADEN REPLAY

Baden Baden is now one-for-three after fifth- and sixth-place finishes in her first two outings. She was a $20,000 London Classic sale purchase by Duncan Brewer of Waterdown, Randell Urquhart of Hamilton, and Steve Deady of Paris. Brewer trains the filly.

Also on the card, two-year-old Lite Up The World (American Ideal) lit up the teletimer with a win in 1:51.3. The colt, driven by James MacDonald, led from the backstretch home, finishing in :26 to complete the eye-catching mile. The Tony Beaton-trained colt just missed in his debut in the Tompkins-Geers two weeks back. Owners Mac and Carol Nichol bought the freshman for $95,000 from the Lexington Select sale.

LITE UP THE WORLD REPLAY

Other two-year-old winners on the card were Little Papi (Papi Rob Hanover, Jamieson, 1:55.1) and Landing On Time (Tactical Landing, MacDonald, 1:56.4).

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Jul. 12 at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink