Taurasi threepeats in $36,000 Preferred

Taurasi (Racing Hill) captured his third straight $36,000 Preferred Pace at a snowy Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Jan. 6) in another open-length harness racing victory.

Driver Doug McNair varied his tactics from two weeks prior, letting three horses by from the inside post to sit fourth going to the quarter in :26.3. The gelding held position to the half with Livinthebeachlife (Louis-Philippe Roy) setting the pace up front.

McNair pulled Taurasi off the cones as they approached the far turn, and the gelding quickly gave the leader all he could handle. Taurasi was a neck back at three-quarters in 1:23.2 and rolled by Livinthebeachlife as they straightened for home. Taurasi powered clear at the top of the lane and cruised home to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:51.1.

Points North (Sylvain Filion) held his nose in front of Covered Bridge (James MacDonald) for second.

TAURASI REPLAY

It was Taurasi’s first start of the year and his third consecutive win. The gelding competed in the Grand Circuit for much of last season but moved to Ontario in December for winter racing. Richard Moreau took over training from Tony Alagna. Brad Grant of Milton owns the five-year-old with Alagna Racing of Jackson. The gelding is now 13-for-32 lifetime with $419,321 in career earnings.

Taurasi’s win was the highlight of a four-win night for Moreau, who is 10-for-31 in the new year. McNair also scored a grand slam on the night.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will return to action on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7:10 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink