Saulsbrook Victor completes Preferred grand slam

Saulsbrook Victor (Source Of Pride) won his fourth consecutive $34,000 Preferred Pace in another front-end harness racing effort on Saturday (Jan. 21) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Again under the guidance of Austin Sorrie, the gelding could not outpace Wheels On Fire (Doug McNair) off the car but pressed parked out into the first turn to take the lead going by the quarter in :27.3. He then set a half time of :56.1 and came under fire from the pocket-popping Wheels On Fire as they motored to three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Wheels On Fire maintained pressure down the stretch, but Saulsbrook Victor proved a length the best in 1:50.4, his best time so far this year.

Sometime Somewhere (Sylvain Filion) got up for third over Sintra (Anthony MacDonald).

SAULSBROOK VICTOR REPLAY

It was Saulsbrook Victor’s fifth straight victory – he took down a conditioned event prior to stepping up to the Preferred level. Ronald MacDonald trains the five-year-old who has now won 13 of his 49 career starts and has compiled a bankroll of $244,885. Brett MacDonald of Freelton and Brent Maclennan of Charlottetown own the gelding.

Trainer Richard Moreau led the day, capturing three of the program’s 12 races. His winners were Ahoy (Captaintreacherous, McNair, 1:52.1), Shadow In Red (Shadow Play, Filion, 1:52.2.), and American History (American Ideal, McNair, 1:50.4).

Likely the biggest upset of the Canadian season to date occurred in the 10th race, when Highlandbeachlover (Somebeachsomewhere) won the fifth race at 70-1. The Jonathan Drury-driven gelding swept by three foes in the stretch to score in 1:50.2, his first win at the level since April 2022. The Carmen Auciello trainee returned $142.30 to win.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will continue racing at 7:00 p.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 23.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink