Macdonell captures Mohawk features

Harness racing driver and trainer Paul Macdonell swept the Woodbine Mohawk Park features on Monday as he guided two trotters to victory in $22,000 events.

Combs Hanover brushed his foes aside in the second headlined event.

Macdonell applied little speed from post one at the start as four opponents sped past Combs Hanover going into the first turn. He sat fifth as High Gear No Fear (Doug McNair) set a :28.3 first quarter mile up front, and Macdonell sent his trainee on the move first-over prior to the half in :58.3.

Combs Hanover rolled in the third panel and grabbed the lead before hitting three-quarters in 1:27.3. Macdonell’s job was complete at that point as Combs Hanover coasted to the end, stopping the clock in 1:56.2. He was five-lengths clear of Four Wheelin (Louis-Philippe Roy), who overtook four horses in the stretch for place. I Got The Looks (Trevor Henry) finished third.

COMBS HANOVER REPLAY

Combs Hanover is two-for-two in 2021 and five-for-17 lifetime. He broke the $100,000 earnings barrier on Monday for owners Chris and Michael Storms of Picton. The four-year-old gelded son of Archangel paid $4.30 to win.

No brush was required in the first co-feature as Macdonell went wire-to-wire with the heavily-favoured Royalty Deal.

Royalty Deal emerged from a three-horse leaving group to take the lead at the mouth of the first turn. She got a pressure-free trip, putting up splits of :28.2, :57.3, and 1:27 along the way, and pulled a calm Macdonell home to a 1:56.1 score by two and a half lengths.

Imextraspecial (Henry) closed the gap late and finished second; Dicentra (Bob McClure) took show. The win price was $2.80.

ROYALTY DEAL REPLAY

The Clark Beelby-trained Royalty Deal also boasts a perfect record in two starts this season. The four-year-old daughter of Royalty For Life has won six races and earned $180,575 for Coyote Wynd Farms of Vancouver.

The streak of drivers hitting grand slams at Mohawk Park ended on Monday as no pilot recorded more than two victories after five straight cards of at least one doing so. Macdonell, McNair, and Jody Jamieson each went to the winner’s circle twice.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will be back on Tuesday, Jun. 22 with 10 races, including a renewal of the $34,000 Preferred Handicap class. Racing will begin at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink