Milton, ON — Ontario-sired 3- and 4-year-olds were the main attraction on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
A quartet of Ontario-Sired Spring Series finals for 3-year-olds (non-winners of C$30,000 in 2022) were contested along with the second leg of the Ontario Graduate for 4-year-old pacers.
Ontario-Sired Spring Series – 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Standout sophomore No Control overcame post 10 to sweep the Spring Series in Saturday’s C$48,100 final.
Tyler Jones once again steered the Tan Micallef-trained No Control to victory, sending the overwhelming favorite forward for a gate-to-wire score. The gelded son of Control The Moment scooted through fractions of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:23.3 before securing a two-length win in 1:52.2. Gandolf The Black grabbed second, while Bar Down Jim overcame interference in the first turn to finish third.
No Control burst onto the Woodbine scene in December, dominantly winning two of his first three starts. The Micallef trainee recently returned to sweep the Spring Series and improve to five-for-six lifetime for owners Micallef, Keira Liberte and Ian Clarke.
A $2 win ticket on No Control returned $2.40.
No Control is eligible to the Pepsi North America Cup.
Ontario-Sired Spring Series – 3-Year-Old Filly Trot
HP Extra Ice sat back early before mowing down her rivals for a 1:56.3 score in the C$43,900 contest.
The Ben Baillargeon-trained HP Extra Ice got away sixth with driver James MacDonald in the field of seven before eventually coming wide off the final turn from fifth and surging to her third win. Muscling Vegas finished 1-1/2 lengths back in second while Southwind Chardnay was third.
A daughter of Alarm Detector, HP Extra Ice made three qualifying appearances at age 2, but never made an official start. The Baillargeon trainee returned March 16 to win her career debut and posted a win and third in the preliminary legs. She’s now three-for-five overall.
Claude Hamel, who bred HP Extra Ice, shares ownership with trainer Baillargeon along with Santo and Nunzio Vena.
HP Extra Ice paid $4.70 to win.
Ontario-Sired Spring Series – 3-Year-Old Filly Pace
Elises Delight proved she was much the best to win her C$49,300 final in 1:54.3.
The Jeff Gillis-trained Elises Delight fired out from post eight for driver James MacDonald to post a :27.4 opener. The favorite gave way briefly to outside starter Dewitt This Moment before circling back to command at a :57 half.
Elises Delight rolled down to three-quarters in 1:25.3 before kicking clear in the lane to win in the rain by 2-1/2 lengths. Tesla Power was second while Chedda Chedda was third.
A daughter of Bettor’s Delight, Elises Delight posted a win and second in the preliminary legs. The Gillis trainee is now four-for-eight this season for Gillis, who shares ownership with Ellen Ott.
Elises Delight paid $4.70 to win.
Ontario-Sired Spring Series – 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Bruce Richardson trainee Like Chaos got a perfect steer from driver Trevor Henry to capture his C$45,400 Spring Series final in 1:57.2.
Like Chaos got away fourth and picked up the live cover of favorite Devils Arch on the final turn to sit second-over swinging for home. The Richardson trainee powered by the public’s top choice to score the victory by 2-1/2 lengths. Devils Arch settled for second, while Lava Field was third.
A gelded son of Lookslikeachpndale, Like Chaos has enjoyed a nice run of success at age 3 after going winless in eight starts as a rookie. The Richardson student scored a win and third in the preliminary legs and now is four-for-eight this season.
Like Chaos is owned by Richardson and Joseph Coffey. He paid $11.40 go win.
Ontario Graduate Series – 4-Year-Old Pacers
Cold Creek Queso improved to two for two with a coast-to-coast score in Saturday’s C$25,000 Ontario Graduate Series second leg.
The Murray Brethour-trained Cold Creek Queso wowed in his season debut with an explosive final turn move and :25 final quarter to win last week. The tactics switched on Saturday to a front-end mission with the same result of another victory.
Driver Sylvain Filion sent Cold Creek Queso forward to win an early sprint and grab command. The duo posted splits of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.2 before kicking home in :27 for a 2-1/2-length victory. Ron tracked the leader throughout and finished second. Camara Moment was third while Dreamfair Arnie B rallied for fourth.
A gelded son of Betterthancheddar, Cold Creek Queso is now a nine-time winner and surpassed C$300,000 in career earnings with Saturday’s victory for owners Cold Creek Standardbred.
The Ontario Graduate Series continues next weekend with leg three. The four Graduate finals will be contested on May 6.
Live racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park resumes Monday evening. Post time is 7 p.m.