Trotting stars kick off OSS Gold series

The first Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Leg of 2022 goes Monday, May 30 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a pair of three-year-old trotting colt divisions. Each division features a returning two-year-old harness racing star with Super Final winner Twin B Archie (Archangel) and Mohawk Million runner-up Duly Resolved (Resolve) both entered.

Twin B Archie had an impressive showing last time out in the SBOA Final for trainer Scott McEneny, who co-owns the gelding with Domenic Chiaravalle, Floyd Marshall, and Martwest Racing Stable.

The gelding shot to the early lead, before settling into the pocket and popping out around 3/8’s to re-take top spot, and best Esplosione by four lengths.

“He was very handy. (Driver) James (MacDonald) said if somebody had of come to him, he would have stepped up and went faster,” said McEneny. “He said he still had some horse left and didn’t pull the plugs.”

MacDonald has driven Twin B Archie in each of his 12 lifetime starts and will be in the race bike Monday evening, leaving from post five, in race six on the card.

“He does whatever he has to do. He’s a very versatile horse,” said McEneny. “You can race him on the front, or you can race him on the back. James has lots of options with him.”

Esplosione, from Kadabra’s second last racing crop, will get a shot at redemption from the SBOA final. However, the Meg Crone trainee will have to overcome a tough post position after drawing the outside in the field of eight for owners Melvin Hartman, and Enzed Racing Stable Inc.

“Meg’s horse raced great last week,” said McEneny. “He drew outside again, but he was second to us, and we also just beat him in the eliminations.”

A third name to watch in the division is Simcoe Seelster. The Royalty For Life son was unraced at two but is coming off back-to-back wins, in the non-winners of one, and subsequently, non-winners of two class at Mohawk. 

He will have solid post position as he jumps in class for owners W G James Stables Ltd., John James, and Deborah Aubin, leaving from post three with a driver change to Doug McNair.

Duly Resolved, trained by John Bax, is the marquee name in the other Gold Leg. The star of Resolve’s first crop is looking for his first win of 2022 after earning over $630,000 for owners Bax Stable, David Hudson, Don Allensen, and Gaelic Stable as a novice.

“We were a little disappointed with the way he finished last time out,” said Bax. “But he looks good, and he’s eating good. We will just put it down to not tight enough.”

Hall of Famer Paul MacDonell gets the drive from post seven, in the second race of the evening.

“We don’t see anything wrong with him,” said Bax. “We just have to make sure he doesn’t get off his feed, and he gets a lot of paddock time. I think he will get tighter.”

Stable Genius, a son of Muscle Mass, makes his OSS debut as the second favourite, leaving from post two for trainer Stephen Bossence.

A homebred for Richard Thompson, and owned in partnership with Bossence and Derek Reid, he was scratched from the SBOA final, but has posted a pair of wins in four starts this season.

Rounding out the contenders is Evil Guy (Il Sogno Dream).

Wife and husband, and trainer/driver duo, Shannon and Trevor Henry will harness the gelding from the rail position. The Bill Manes and William Cripps homebred is making the jump to the Gold level after three on the board Grassroots finishes in 2021.

For the full list of entries in the two Gold Divisions, click here. 

For updated OSS Standings, click here.

For complete race entries, click here.

From the Ontario Sires Stakes