by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Rookies were in the spotlight Thursday night (Oct. 27) at Mohawk Racetrack for a quartet of Ontario Sired Autumn Series finals.

The temperature teetered around the freezing mark during Thursday’s card, but the action got off to a hot start. You Cant Afford Me and Roger Mayotte were able to capitalize after a break by the heavy favorite to win the $21,150 Autumn Series final for 2-year-old trotting fillies in 2:01.2 at odds of 30-1.

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You Cant Afford Me was a 2:01.2 winner in her Autumn Series final.

Powerful Mission, the 1-9 favorite, was seeking a series sweep, but made a miscue when asked to circle around from second to first by driver Phil Hudon just after the opening quarter. Jilona continued to lead the field after Powerful Mission’s break and posted fractions of :28.4, 1:00 and 1:31. You Cant Afford Me, who originally got away sixth, was along the pylons and only three lengths from the front turning for home.

Jilona drifted off the pylons in the lane while attempting to maintain the lead and this allowed Mayotte to send You Cant Afford up the cones for the victory. Tymal Reign was trotting well on the far outside and made it a photo finish for win, but came up a head short. Jilona was able to hold on for a third-place finish.

You Cant Afford Me was winless in 11 prior starts heading into Thursday’s final, but the Scott McEneny trainee picked the perfect time to break her maiden.

“I was just trying to get her off the gate quiet when Sylvain (Filion) ran and delayed me a bit,” said Mayotte. “I saw Phil (Hudon), the big favorite, run so I was liking that.

“I decided to stay inside because I knew Trevor’s (Henry) horse (Jilona) was probably second best and he drifted a little off the rail and I was able to sneak up and get it.”

A daughter of Angus Hall, You Cant Afford Me is owned by Michelle McEneny and Teresa Davidson. The rookie trotting filly now has earnings of $30,151. You Cant Afford Me paid $67.50 to win.

Trainer Per Henriksen showed once again why he is a wizard with trotters, as his student Resita captured the $21,150 2-year-old colt and gelding trot Autumn Series final at 5-1.

Henriksen pulled the shoes on Resita, sending the rookie out to race barefoot, while also changing his bridle from an open to a Swedish blind. The gelded son of Manofmanymissions responded by winning in a career best 1:58.1.

Scene A Magician, who was aiming for a series sweep, made a big second quarter move from fourth to first and cleared to the front just after reaching the half in :58. Resita, who was fifth at the half, was moved to the outside by driver Randy Waples and got up into third at the three-quarter pole.

Scene A Magician was trying to finish the job after trotting by three-quarters in 1:27.2, but the 3-5 favorite couldn’t fight off Resita, as the Henriksen trainee marched by to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Noble Prize finished third for driver Mayotte.

Resita came into the Autumn Series final off back-to-back third-place finishes in the preliminary legs, but driver Waples was confident a victory was within reach.

“Last week he got some bad cover and I had to move him early and he was kind of coming towards Jack’s (Moiseyev) horse (Scene A Magician) last week,” said Waples. “I said to Per’s guys that if I can stay kind of close with him, I’m pretty sure he will win and he did.”

Owned by Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc. and Asa Farm, Resita now has two wins in seven starts for earnings of $20,900. The Henriksen trainee paid $12.90 to win.

Waples carried his momentum over to the next final and was once again back in the winner’s circle.

Out Of Sight left from the rail with Waples and got away fourth, but was quickly moved to the outside at the quarter. The Bob McIntosh trainee got to the front and never looked back.

Out Of Sight took the field by the half in :57.4 and by three-quarters in 1:27.1. The daughter of Mach Three opened up three lengths on the field at the top of the lane and paced home comfortably for a 3-3/4 lengths score in 1:57.2. Manhattan Play, the 3-2 favorite, finished second, while Sports Leader was third.

Out Of Sight entered the $21,450 2-year-old pacing filly final off a second place finish in last week’s second leg. Waples noted that the filly wasn’t on top of her game last week, despite the runner-up finish.

“She seemed like she was a little bit better (tonight), I think she came out of her last race a little bit sick,” said Waples. “With the rail it was hard to kind of get her out of there and keep some of the others out, so I thought I would move her early. She was really good tonight, so it worked out good.”

Owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., Out Of Sight now has two wins in 11 starts and earnings of $35,409. Out Of Sight paid $11.70 to win.

Just like Waples, McIntosh also doubled up in Autumn Series action Thursday night, as Mc Mach took the $21,900 2-year-old pacing colt final with ease.

Driven by Paul MacDonell, Mc Mach left hard from post four to grab command and led the field by the opening quarter in :27.1. The McIntosh trainee and 1-9 favorite kept the tempo honest and stormed by the half in :55.4.

Mc Mach opened up close to four lengths on his rivals at three-quarters in 1:24.1 before coasting home for a 5-1/4 length victory in 1:54.4. Throwoutofbetter finished second, while Osborne Seelster was third.

Mc Mach entered Thursday’s final off a blowout victory last week in the second leg. The son of Mach Three didn’t compete in the first leg and had previously been racing against Grand Circuit and Sires Stakes company.

“He’s really come into himself the last month or so,” said MacDonell. “He had fought a few issues there in the mid-summer and it cost him a couple races, but Bob’s got him right on his game right now and I could see him being a real good 3-year-old.”

Mc Mach now has five wins in 12 starts and earnings of $58,592 for owners Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. and Randy Liepa. Mc Mach paid $2.30 to win.

In order to be eligible to the Autumn Series, the Ontario sired 2-year-olds had to be non-winners of C$30,000 as of Sept. 30, 2016.

Live racing continues Friday evening at Mohawk Racetrack. Post time is 7:30 p.m.