Stag Party son fastest in Harvest Series

Flag Party (Stag Party) was the fastest winner in five first-round harness racing divisions of the Ontario-sired Harvest Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (Oct. 26).

Doug McNair called on the gelding to pop the pocket nearing three-quarters, and Flag Party vaulted past pacesetter Like A Glove (Sylvain Filion) in mid-stretch. Stonebridge Thrill (Tyler Borth) and Be Right There (James MacDonald) closed up late for second and third, respectively, but neither could assail Flag Party, who reached home with a length-and-three-quarters to spare in 1:53.1.

FLAG PARTY REPLAY

Flag Party ended a seven-race winless run with the victory. The Gregg McNair-trained freshman stepped up to the Grassroots level after winning his debut in the Prospect Series and saw mixed results. He has now earned $21,446 for Tony Ciuffetelli of Saratoga Springs.

In the first division of the Event C series – for Ontario-sired two-year-old pacing males – Wicked Prince (Mcwicked, Louis-Philippe Roy) headed Trophy Taker (Jody Jamieson) at the wire to score in 1:53.2. Brooklyn Strong (Daniel Obrian) was well back in third. Wicked Prince is now two-for-11 in his debut season for trainer Murray Brethour. The colt has earned $27,320 for owner Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern.

WICKED PRINCE REPLAY

Brudon (Mcwicked, Roy) outlasted the closing Max Patrick (Jamieson) to take the final split by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:53.3. Lisbon Seelster (Filion) completed the ticket. It was a maiden-breaking win for Brudon, a William Bud-trained colt. He has earned $16,347 in seven tries at two for Bruce Davy of Brockville.

BRUDON REPLAY

Lockdown Romeo (Muscle Mass, Bruce Richardson) took the first split of the Harvest Series Event D, for Ontario-sired rookie trotting males, in tough coast-to-coast fashion with a 1:57.3 clocking. P L Robert G (MacDonald) came within a neck as he closed late but had to settle for place. Devils Kiss (Roy) was third. The winner is now two-for-11 on the year but took both his wins since moving to the John Holding barn at the start of October. Holding co-owns the gelding, who has now earned $31,002, with Morley Bosomworth of Elora.

LOCKDOWN ROMEO REPLAY

Goober Smack (Flanagan Memory, Tyler Borth) glided past rivals after racing first-up and strode to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in 1:57.4 in the second group. Lmc Mr Squishy (Pat Hudon) got past Brutalizer (Filion) in the stretch for second. It was Goober Smack’s second career outing after he missed by a head on debut. Susanne Kerwood trains the colt whom she co-bred. Goober Smack has earned $12,750 for S&R Racing Stable of Acton.

GOOBER SMACK REPLAY

The second leg of the two-year-old male events is set for Nov. 2, followed by a $40,000A final on Nov. 9.

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7:10 p.m. EDT. The 11-race slate will feature top pacing mare So Much More against strong rivals in the Fillies and Mares Preferred-2.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink