Trio of OSS winners for MacDonald

Ontario Sires Stakes action made its season debut at Rideau Carleton Raceway on July 10 with Gold and Grassroots harness racing divisions for three-year-old trotting colts. 

The $157,200 Gold division was the feature race of the evening, and James MacDonald capped off his four-win night by driving 4-5 favourite Twin B Archie (Archangel) to victory. 

MacDonald sent the Archangel son straight to the front from post eight, and he led gate to wire with fractions of 27.3, 57.2, 1:25.4, and 1:54.1. 

“He just gives you that perfect mix of versatility,” said MacDonald. “He can leave the gate like no other trotter, but if you want to take him back and trip him out because that’s what the race calls for, he likes that as well. He’s a really fun horse to drive.”

The win pushed the Scott Mceney trainee over $500,000 in career earnings for Mceney and his ownership partners Domenic Chiaravalle (Hamilton, Ont.), Floyd Marshall (Jarvis, Ont.), and Martwest Racing Stable (Mississauga, Ont.).

Jody Jamieson piloted Esplosione to a second-place finish, moving the Kadabara colt’s 2022 OSS Gold record to 1-1-0. The Meg Crone trainee is owned by Melvin Hartman (Ottawa, Ont.), and Enzed Racing Stable Inc (Allentown, NJ).

Rounding out the top-three was Century Invader with Scott Young driving for trainer Shawn Steacy. The Resolve colt now has over $70,000 in earnings for owners Landmark 14 (Lansdowne, Ont.), Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc (Hudson, Que.), David Reid (Sydenham Ont.)

Earlier in the evening, MacDonald won two of the three Grassroots divisions for sophomore trotters.

His win with Chantal Mitchell trainee Armstead Cole (Johnny William) in the third Grassroots division was popular with local race fans, as the defending Grassroots champion is owned by James Armitage and Dr. Roland Armitage from Dunrobin, Ont., Sheryl McDiarmid (Greely, Ont.), and Grant Watson (Ottawa, Ont.).

“Chantal said there was a big group here to watch him and she greatly underestimated how big it was,” said MacDonald. “It was a gigantic group in the winner’s circle.”

Sent off as the 1-9 favourite the Johnny William son led gate to wire from post five, to win by four lengths.

“He’s just a professional, and so easy to drive,” said MacDonald. “I haven’t seen the big closing kick yet because I haven’t needed it, but he settles on the front, and is a real gentlemen to drive. Really happy for the ownership group tonight, they were pretty pumped up for the win.”

The gelding now has over $92,000 in earnings and a career record of 6-1-3 from 15 starts.

MacDonald’s other Grassroots win came in race five with Renegade Gypsy (Archangel). He was settled into pocket position early by MacDonald after leaving strong from post five, and a first-up move sent the Mario Baillargeon trainee to the front by the half. He was game the rest of the way, winning in 1:55.1.

“He raced really well. He has a ton of gate speed, so I used it,” said MacDonald. “A couple kept coming, and cleared, and I didn’t know how he was going to be first up. But as soon as he got to (Kipper Whipr Snipr) he kind of took off and cleared and was strong to the finish as well.”

The first Grassroots division was race four on the card, and odds-on favourite Archery Seelster (Wheelin N Dealin) came away with the win. 

Sylvain Filion had the Wheelin N Dealin son positioned third early on, but as the field passed the grandstand for the first time he charged to the front and was able to lead the rest of the way and win by 2 lengths. 

Trainer Marcel Barrieau (Cambridge, Ont.), and Gestion Mastel Inc (Longueil, Que.) own the gelding. 

For current OSS Standings click here.

For complete race result, click here.

From the Ontario Sire Stakes