Take A Gamble clinical in Ontario Boys

Take A Gamble tracked down the leader after a perfect trip and took the Ontario Boys Pacing Series first leg harness racing feature at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday night.

Pilot Travis Cullen placed the Bettors Delight gelding on the lead off the start from post seven but soon saw the back of Hesincontrol (Doug McNair), who pushed forward into the turn. The latter set :28.2 and :58.1 first half fractions facing no pressure and quickened to a 1:26.1 three-quarter time as 2021 Valdictory Series champ Century Hannibal (James MacDonald) made headway first-over.

Century Hannibal wavered coming off the turn, allowing Cullen to shift Take A Gamble off the cones with 3/16ths remaining. The gelding responded willingly, leaving Hesincontrol behind en route to victory in 1:54.

Mustang Beach (Louis-Philippe Roy) followed the $20.60. winner throughout and closed late to narrow the margin to three quarters of a length. Hesincontrol was three lengths adrift of that gelding.

TAKE A GAMBLE REPLAY

Duane Marfisi trains Take A Gamble for Stephen Klunowski of North York. In 2021, the horse captured two legs of the Ontario Harvest Series and placed in the final. His second win of the year this evening improved his career record to six-for-28 lifetime and increased his lifetime earnings to $113,145.

The Ontario Boys Series was last held in 2016. It is a three-leg event for Ontario-sired four-year-old pacing horses and geldings that haven’t won more than $75,000 as of Oct. 31, 2021.

Klunowski also scored with Meadowlands shipper American Tour N, who converted a rapid third-quarter move to a 1:57.3 victory in the second leg of the Pop-Up series for pacing fillies and mares. Jonathan Drury steered the eight-year-old daughter of American Ideal for trainer Carmen Auciello. American Tour N is now 18-for-103 lifetime with a $127,699 bankroll.

AMERICAN TOUR N REPLAY

Saulsbrook Flashy won off a backstretch brush in the second division of the Pop-Up series to avenge last week’s narrow first leg defeat. McNair commanded the Stephen Charlton trainee to the 1:57.4 victory. It was the seventh career win in 59 tries for the five-year-old Hes Watching mare who has now earned a total of $63,313. She is owned by Larocque Racing Stable Inc. of Thornhill. The mare has has gone winless in two previous Pop-Up series.

SAULSBROOK FLASHY REPLAY

Racing continues tomorrow at Woodbine Mohawk Park. A $36,000 Preferred features on the 12-race program that also includes four Pop-Up series contests. First post is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink