by Mark McKelvie, for WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Autumn Series preliminary round action concluded Thursday (Oct. 20) with three second leg divisions for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Mohawk Racetrack. A group of 11, originally 12, 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings were split into two divisions, while nine freshmen trotting colts and geldings competed in a single division. Each division was contested for a purse of C$16,000.

The 2-year-olds not only had to deal with each other, but also a sloppy racing surface, as rain fell all day Thursday in Campbellville. After finishing second as the public’s choice last week, Bills Fella bounced back for a convincing victory in the first pacing division.

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Bills Fella scores his second win of the year in the Autumn Series at Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday.

Driven by Mike Saftic, Bills Fellas got away third in the early stages, while Sauble Shadow cut an opening-quarter of :28.3. Saftic gave the public’s choice his cue to move in the second-quarter and the rookie responded by clearing to command just before hitting the half in :58.1. Bills Fella never looked back once taking the lead and finished off the victory by pacing a :29.1 third quarter-mile and a :29 final quarter-mile over the off going for a 1:56.2 score. Osborne Seelster got to the winner’s wheel, but had to settle for second, while Red John finished a little more than seven lengths back in third.

A gelded son of Artistic Fella-Lucky Louisa, Bills Fella now has two wins in 10 starts this season. A homebred for trainer Gregg McNair and co-owner Ian Fleming, Bills Fella has now earned C$28,160 in his rookie season. He paid $3.20 to win.

Exiting out of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold action, Mc Mach lived up to the 3-5 hype with a dominating victory in the second split. The Bob McIntosh trainee did not compete in last week’s first leg, but quickly made up for lost time. Driven by Paul MacDonell, Mc Mach fired out to grab the early lead and it was lights out from there. Mc Mach posted fractions of :27.2, :56 and 1:25 before drawing away for a 7-1/4 length victory in 1:54.1. Dreamfair B J, who won a first leg division last week, finished second, while Thrownoutofbetter was third.

Mc Mach now has four wins in 11 starts with his previous three victories all coming in OSS Grassroots action. The Mach Three-Northern Empress colt has banked C$62,450 this season for owners Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, Al McIntosh Holdings Inc and Randy Liepa. The McIntosh trainee paid $3.40 to win.

Scene A Magician proved last week’s big victory was no trick by taking Thursday’s lone Autumn Series division for rookie trotting colts and geldings in 1:58.4.Driven by Jack Moiseyev, Scene A Magician left from post eight and was pointed towards the front. The 2-year-old gelding was parked around the first turn, but quickly cleared to command entering the backstretch. As Scene A Magician grabbed the front, Vesuvio Bi came first up from fourth for driver Mario Baillargeon. However, Vesuvio Bi could not get around Scene A Magician despite urging from Baillargeon and was left out for the duration of the middle half-mile.

Scene A Magician stayed focused despite the outside challenger and trotted the field by the half in :59.1 and three-quarters in 1:29. In the stretch, Scene A Magician stretched out his lead to a few lengths and trotted home in :29.4 to score the victory. Upvote Hanover rallied up the rail at 35-1 to finish second by three quarters of a length. Resita finished third.

A son of Daylon Magician-Scene Duharis, Scene A Magician improved his record to a solid four wins in seven starts with his 1:58.4 score Thursday. The rookie gelding has banked C$49,020 this season for trainer Jennifer Pinkerton, who shares ownership with Daylon Farms Ltd and Gordon Yeo.

Scene A Magician will now have an opportunity to sweep the Autumn Series in next Thursday’s (Oct. 27) final. He paid $6.70 to win.

The Autumn Series for 2-year-olds will wrap up next Thursday with the finals for all four divisions taking place on that card. The Autumn Series final for pacing colts and geldings will go for a purse of C$29,200, while the final for pacing fillies will be contested a purse of C$28,600. The finals for trotting colts and geldings and trotting fillies will both go for a purse of C$28,200.

In order to be eligible to the Ontario sired Autumn Series, the 2-year-olds had to be non-winners of C$30,000 lifetime as of Sept. 30.

Live racing continues Friday night (Oct. 21) at Mohawk Racetrack. Post time is 7:30 p.m.