Northern Looker victorious in OSS Gold debut

Rookie three-year-old harness racing gelding Northern Looker (Muscle Mass) made a winning first foray into the Ontario Sires Stakes in a $95,000 Gold second leg division at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (Jun. 27).

Trevor Henry had him sitting fourth to the quarter in :27.4, leaving a hole open for the advancing favourite Goober Smack (Tyler Borth), but the latter galloped at that first station. Northern Looker maintained third to the half in :57.1 and made his move going into the far turn, advancing to leader Soar Higher’s (James MacDonald) side as they reached three-quarters in 1:26.

Northern Looker drifted out but put him way in mid-stretch, and strode home to victory by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:54.

Finite (Louis-Philippe Roy) led the chasing group home. He finished second over What About Elmo (Tyler Jones).

NORTHERN LOOKER REPLAY

Northern Looker is three-for-five in his debut season, now with $66,540 in earnings. Camilla Christoforou trains the gelding, a $105,000 London Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Charalambos Christoforou of Campbellville and Irvann Holdings of Toronto. The mile time was a new best for the three-year-old, who won two overnight races before Thursday’s victory.

In the first division, Myretirementdream (Il Sogno Dream) took another step to fulfilling his name as he claimed his third career Gold win. Jody Jamieson guided the colt to an early lead before being pocketed at the quarter, where he remained until shifting out to attack on the last turn. He quickly muscled past pacesetter Griff (James MacDonald) and pulled away by three-and-a-half lengths to score in 1:54.1. The favoured Willowtime (Bob McClure) held off Fabulous Freddie (Borth) for place.

MYRETIREMENTDREAM REPLAY

Myretirementdream is now off the mark for the season in his fifth start. He finished second in the first Gold leg. Eli Wagler owns, trains, and bred the three-year-old, who has now earned $241,911 and won four of his 13 appearances.

Next up for the three-year-old trotting colts and geldings is the mid-season final on Jul. 13.

To read about the Tompkins-Geers divisions on the card, click here.

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Jun. 28 with a 10-race card featuring two divisions of the Tompkins-Geers for two-year-old colts and geldings. First post is 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink