by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Three-year-old trotters were on display Monday night (April 20) at Mohawk Racetrack in a trio of Tie Silk Series first leg divisions.

A group of 23 sophomore trotting colts and geldings were split into three C$15,000 divisions for the first round of the Tie Silk. The trotters not only had to battle with each other Monday evening, but also heavy winds blowing in their face down the lane.

In the first division, the Pennsylvania invader Great Magic was victorious in 1:58.3.

Driven by Trevor Henry, Great Magic grabbed the early lead and would face his first challenger down the backstretch in the form of Raising Richard and trainer/driver Eddie Green. Raising Richard would be unable to get by the leader and would eventually make a break nearing the three-quarter pole.

After putting away the first up challenger, Great Magic opened up several lengths on his rivals in the lane and trotted on to a 3-1/4 length victory. Guscrest got up for second, while Amityville Lindy overcame a pair of breaks to finish third.

A son of Kadabra, Great Magic shipped up north from the Meadows for the Tie Silk and into the care of trainer Paul Reid for owner Robert Key. The sophomore trotter came into Monday evening’s contest with three wins in his last four starts. Great Magic, who did not win a race in two starts as a rookie, now has a 2015 record of four wins from nine starts. His earnings now exceed C$44,000. Great Magic paid $6.40 to win.

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Tarot and Randy Waples won the fastest division in a clocking of 1:56.4.

Tarot and driver Randy Waples scored a 1:56.4 victory as the 7-5 favorite in the evening’s second division.

A son of Taurus Dream, Tarot trotted out to the early lead, while Arrakis was to his outside around the opening turn. Waples would make a give and go move by allowing Arrakis to clear in the second quarter, but circled back to the lead with Tarot.

The favorite would look strong around the final turn and reached the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. In the stretch, Tarot was under no pressure and trotted home to win by a comfortable two lengths over Hemi Seelster. In Secret, the 9-5 second choice, finished third.

Tarot, who is trained by Dave Tyrrell for owner Michael Casalino Jr., failed to win a race in 11 starts last season, but the gelding’s luck has turned right around this year. The Tyrrell trainee now has five wins from nine starts and earnings of more than C$46,000 in 2015. A $2 win ticket on Tarot returned $4.80.

In the third and final division, Waples would pick up his second Tie Silk victory of the night with 1-9 shot Covert Operative.

The heavy favorite got away in third and would trot along in that position until about the midway point. Covert Operative and Waples came first up around the final turn to challenge the leader Duh Bubbees. After reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:29.3, the two trotters would come off the final turn and battle it out down the stretch.

Duh Bubbees tried his best to fend off the heavy choice in the lane, but Covert Operative would ultimately overtake the leader and prevail by a length in 1:59.2. Its Huw You Know, the longest shot on the board at 45-1, finished third.

A son of Deweycheatumnhowe, Covert Operative is trained by Per Henriksen for owners Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc. and Asa Farm. The gelding trotter came into Monday night’s Tie Silk opening leg with two wins from three starts this season. Covert Operative now has a career bankroll of C$32,650. The Henriksen trainee paid $2.30 to win.

In order to be eligible to the Tie Silk series, the 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters had to be non-winners of C$30,000 in 2014. The second leg of the Tie Silk will take place next Monday night (April 27).