Two-year-old trotting fillies got their star turn at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday, July 6 and Adare Castle and Elegant Mermaid emerged victorious in their Gold Series debut.
In the first $101,400 division, fans liked the look of Adare Castle’s qualifying results one win and one second and sent her off as their top choice. The Muscle Mass daughter and driver Bob McClure of Rockwood, ON left well from Post 4 and had established command before the :29 opening quarter. They cruised along on the front end through a 1:00.1 half and 1:30 three-quarters and then kicked home to a four and three-quarter length win in 1:57.4. HP Felicity finished second and Needa Little Magic was third.
For the second straight year, a Rideau Carleton Raceway track record has fallen during Ontario Sires Stakes competition.
In the second of two $99,800 Gold Series divisions at the Ottawa oval on Sunday, July 11, three-year-old trotting colt Logan Park sprinted down the stretch to reel in pacesetter Highland Mowgli and trip the teletimer at 1:52.4. Highland Mowgli settled for second, a half length behind the favourite, and Macho Martini was three lengths behind in third. The mile lowered the former three-year-old trotting colt and gelding record of 1:54.1 set by All Wrapped Up in 2019 and equaled the all-age track record set by P L Notsonice in three-year-old trotting filly Gold Series action last summer.
When Powertrain was injured in a freak paddock accident as a yearling, trainer Nick Gallucci and owner-breeder George Millar did not know if the pacing colt would survive, let alone go on to make a start in the Ontario Sires Stakes program.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Millar Farms broodmare manager Steven Samis, Powertrain made a full recovery and on June 17, 2021 he made his racing debut, recording a 1:51.2 victory against other novice pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Eleven days later he made a second start and delivered an impressive 1:49.3 victory.
As a result of those efforts, when Powertrain stepped onto the racetrack for the 3-year-old pacing colt Grassroots season opener on Saturday (July 10), Woodbine Mohawk Park fans sent him as their top choice. As he has done since recovering from his injury, Powertrain exceeded the expectations of his Stouffville, Ont. connections and powered down the stretch to a one-length victory in 1:50.1. Pacesetter Jimmy Connor B finished se
Wheels On Fire ran his win streak to six while also taking his fourth consecutive victory in the $34,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (July 10).
Driver Doug McNair wasted no time with the 2-5 favourite and sent Wheels On Fire to the lead before a :27.4 first quarter with Rockme Rollme settling into second. Wheels On Fire raced unchallenged to a :56.3 half and started to accelerate to three-quarters in 1:24 before putting away his competition and coasting to a 1:50.1 win by 3 1/4 lengths. Sintra took second from Rockme Rollme in third.
Owned by Brad Grant, six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding Wheels On Fire won his eighth race from 11 starts this season and his 30th from 79 overall, earning $516,523. He paid $2.80 to win.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement arrives at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (July 11) in the shape of 39 three-year-old trotting colts and geldings and, for the first time this season, fans will be on hand to cheer them home.
Trotting colts will square off in two $99,800 Gold divisions and a trio of $22,150 Grassroots Series divisions. In the Gold Series contests, two of the competitors will carry the hopes of local owners. Royal Tyrone starts from post 5 in the first split for Ottawa resident R. William MacQuarrie’s 1187422 Ontario Inc., and Tokyo Seelster gets post 4 in the second division for Braveheart Racing principals Frank Spagnolo of Ottawa and Kenneth Donald of Nepean and their partners Michael and Sam Sergi of Canton, N.Y.