by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — The combination of driver Randy Waples and trainer Tony Alagna has been red hot at Mohawk Racetrack and Thursday night (Aug. 25) the hot streak continued. Alagna sent out three horses on Thursday’s 10-race card and all three scored victories with Waples in the sulky.

The successful evening for the duo began in the opening race, as rookie trotting colt Signal Hill broke his maiden with a 1:58.3 score. The son of Muscle Hill-Special Appeal, who sold for $250,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, was making his third career start and trotted home in :27.4 for the victory. Signal Hill is owned by Brittany Farms, David McDuffee, Marvin Katz and Adriano Sorella.

Vintage Babe gave Waples and Alagna their second victory with a 1:54.2 triumph in the third race. The sophomore pacing filly was competing at the non-winners of two or $25,000 lifetime level and shot home in :27.3 for her third career score. The daughter of Vintage Master is owned by Alagna Racing LLC and Jodi Siamis.

New Image Media photo

Winter Harbor was a 1:56.1 winner for driver Randy Waples and trainer Tony Alagna.

The third victory of the night for Waples and Alagna came in the eighth race as Winter Harbor picked up his second consecutive victory. The 3-year-old son of Muscle Hill grinded away first up throughout the middle half and pulled ahead in the lane for a 1:56.1 score.

A $240,000 yearling purchase at the 2014 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Winter Harbor didn’t make his 3-year-old debut until Aug. 5 and now has two wins from three starts to improve his career record to three wins in six starts. He is owned by Brittany Farms, John Cancelliere, Little E LLC and Winter Harbor Partners.

The combination of Waples and Alagna is winning at almost 50 percent this season at Mohawk. They will team up twice on Friday’s card with a pair of impressive ladies. Ontario Sires Stakes star Caprice Hill will be looking for her fifth win of the season in the Casual Breeze Stakes, while 4-year-old pacing mare Bedroomconfessions has won four of her last five starts and goes for another victory in the Mares Preferred.

Waples was not the only driver to win three races Thursday, as James MacDonald scored a hat trick on a day he won’t forget. Earlier on Thursday, MacDonald and his wife welcomed their first child into the world and that evening the new Dad put in a strong night at the office. He won two of the first four races and completed the hat trick in the ninth race with 29-1 longshot Amoureuse Hanover. MacDonald now has 80 wins this season at Mohawk and sits fourth in the driver standings.

Live racing continues Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack with two C$97,000 divisions of the Casual Breeze highlighting action. Post time is 7:30 p.m.