Nothing but net for Jokic and Lowry in Millard Farms

Rookies Jokic (Cantab Hall) and Lowry (Father Patrick) hit their shots in the Millard Farms series first leg for two-year-old trotting males on Thursday (Jul. 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Jokic was first off the bench in the opening division. Driver Tyler Jones slid the gelding in behind a faster-leaving trio and sat fourth through :29.1 and :59.2 first-half fractions.

Jokic pulled out behind What An Angel (Archangel, Scott Young) nearing three-quarters in 1:29.4 and charged down the lane to catch leader Ghostly Casper (Resolve, Sylvain Filion) by a neck for the victory in 1:58.1.

Ghostly Casper finished second, half a length clear of Southwind Coors (Walner, Mike Saftic). The winner upset at 7-1.

JOKIC REPLAY

It was Jokic’s first career victory. Dustin Jones trains Dean Lockhart’s $32,000 Harrisburg purchase. The gelding debuted on Jul. 14, finishing third. He is the second foal and first winner from Kadabra mare Sunrise Avenue.

Lowry scored his second in a row in the second division and shaved two seconds off his maiden-breaking mark.

He held the inside as Mass Market (Muscle Mass, Trevor Henry) pressed on to the quarter in :29.1 despite struggling with the first turn. Mass Market settled onto the front as they straightened onto the backstretch, but Lowry popped the pocket nearing the half and crossed over to the lead after hitting the midway point in :59.1.

Mass Market looked to replicate his foe’s move nearing three-quarters in 1:28.2 and put Lowry into a drive. The pair turned for home level, and Lowry showed his grit to turn away that rival and take the win in 1:57.1.

Gaines Hanover (Cantab Hall, Filion) surged from the back but was three-quarters of a length short. Dyladmar (Muscle Hill, McNair) could not improve on his third-place positioning.

LOWRY REPLAY

Lowry, a $67,000 Lexington Select sale buy, has won two of his three races after a first score on Jun. 30. Bax Stable of Campbellville, Brad Grant of Milton, and Steve Heimbecker of Waterloo share ownership of the son of Credit Winner mare Hustle Heart. John Bax trains the gelding.

The Pure Ivory series for two-year-old trotting fillies also held its first leg on Thursday.

Foolish Moni (International Moni) went coast-to-coast in the first split for Filion and trainer Black Macintosh. She powered down the stretch to win by three lengths over Quite Fast (Walner, Matthew Bax). Warrawee Yves (Walner, Louis-Philippe Roy) finished third.

FOOLISH MONI REPLAY

Macintosh, a resident of St. George, co-owns Foolish Moni with Tim Klemencic of Trenton. The filly went for $15,000 at Harrisburg and is one-for-three lifetime after breaking in her Pennsylvania Sires Stakes debut and missing narrowly in her Jul. 10 start at Mohawk. She is out of Self Possessed mare Miss Athens, dam of stakes winners Major Athens and Dover Miss.

Silly Me Hanover (Walner) was the fastest two-year-old trotter of the evening in a victorious debut effort from the pocket with Bob McClure at the lines. She grinded down Shiny New Penny (Alarm Detector, Filion) in the stretch to score in 1:56.1. Proud To Be Lindy (Muscle Hill, Chris Christoforou) got past Shiny New Penny late for second.

SILLY ME HANOVER REPLAY

Silly Me Hanover was a $250,000 purchase at Harrisburg for the Determination stable. The Luc Blais-trained filly is out of the stakes-contending mare Shared Past, who has now produced five winners in eight foals.

The second legs of both series will go forward on Thursday, Jul. 21 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The $50,000A finals are set for one week later.

Also on the card, Warrawee Xenia (Walner) snagged her sixth consecutive win in the conditioned ranks. The three-year-old filly had a four-length margin as she crossed the line in 1:54 with the guidance of McClure. The Shawn Steacy trainee has won six in seven this year after one visit to the winner’s circle at two. Mark Steacy, David McDonald, Dale Larson, and Diane Bertrand are partners on the filly.

WARRWEE XENIA REPLAY

Woodbine Mohawk Park hosts the next Ontario Sires Stakes Gold action with one dash of the third leg for three-year-old trotting fillies on Friday, Jul. 22. First post will be at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink