by OSS News

Campbellville, ON — There were some new faces in the Ontario Sires Stakes winner’s circle at Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday evening as the 2-year-old trotting colts and 3-year-old trotting fillies closed out their Gold Series regular season.

After finishing second in three Gold Legs and third in the other, Will Take Charge (Kadabra-Celebrity Angel) finally found his way to the winner’s circle in the second of three C$70,000 trotting colt divisions. The Kadabra gelding and driver Paul MacDonell took command of the race past the half-way marker and cruised home four length winners in 1:57.2. Mass Balance was second and Midnight Toker finished third.

Photos courtesy of New Image Media

Guelph resident Paul MacDonell guided 2-year-old trotting gelding Will Take Charge to his first ever Gold Series win in 1:57.2 at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 29.

“He just had second-it is,” said trainer John Bax wryly.

“He’s been pretty good all along, just an easy on himself kind of horse, I can’t really complain about him,” continued the Campbellville, ON resident. “He kind of just does whatever you want and does it right.”

Bax shares ownership of the trotter with Gordon Wright of Charlotte, MI, Don Allensen of Wyoming, ON and John Hayes of Sharon, ON. In 10 starts Will Take Charge has tallied one win, four seconds, one third and $123,590. Tuesday’s Gold win puts him in a tie for third in the division standings with 137 points.

Will Take Charge will make his next start in the Oct. 10 Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack, and Bax is hoping the gelding’s consistency carries on through the C$250,000 post-season showdown.

“One more start,” said the trainer. “Hope it keeps going.”

In the first division, Tony Soprano (Kadabra-Windsong Soprano) moved to the top of the point standing with his third Gold Series win, touring the Mohawk oval in a personal best 1:56.2. Hall of Fame driver John Campbell guided the Kadabra son to the win for Hall of Fame trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor, ON and his partners Mardon Stables of Loretto, ON, Paradox Farm Inc. of Caledon East, ON and Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, ON.

Dreamliner and Willyorwonthe rounded out the top three, more than 10 lengths behind Tony Soprano.

The victory improved Tony Soprano’s freshman record to three wins, one second and two thirds in nine starts and boosted his earnings to C$161,430. He leads the parade of freshman trotting colts into the C$250,000 Super Final with 187 points.

The third trotting colt division saw Dunvegan Don (Cornaro Dasolo-Frannies Ridge) earn his second Gold trophy, sailing along on the front end to a 5-1/2 length win in 1:58.1.Nofear Blue Chip and Dia Monde trotted into second and third.

Doug McNair of Guelph, ON engineered the win for trainer Herbert Holland of Milton, ON and his partners Jim Fielding of Toronto, ON, Guy Polillo of Brantford, ON and Kevin McKinley of Holland Landing, ON. In seven starts Dunvegan Don has accumulated three wins and one third for earnings of C$85,900.The Cornaro Dasolo son wrapped up the regular season in fifth spot with 115 points.

In the first 3-year-old trotting filly division, 2014 Grassroots Champion Second Sister garnered her first-ever Gold Series trophy with a 1:55.4 effort. Starting from post one, the Deweycheatumnhowe daughter and driver Rick Zeron of Oakville, ON tucked in behind fan favorite Muscle Baby Doll and stayed on that filly’s heels as she moved into the outer lane heading for the halfway marker. After using Muscle Baby Doll as a wind break, Second Sister was able to power past the favorite in the stretch to a 1-3/4 length win. Muscle Baby Doll settled for second and pacesetter All That Sparkles was third.

“She’s been pretty consistent all year, but it was nice to win one,” said trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph, ON.

Much like Will Take Charge, Second Sister had been close in the first four Gold Legs, posting two seconds, one third and one sixth-place result. Tuesday’s win boosted her from sixth to third in the division standings with 115 points. Through all 13 of her sophomore starts the filly has two wins, four seconds, three thirds and earnings of C$146,660.

“She’s just been a nice solid mare, doesn’t do much wrong,” said McNair, who conditions the filly for Jarold Hawks of Jeddo, MI. “Hope she draws kind of decent over at Woodbine, and go from there I guess.”

In spite of suffering her first defeat in Gold Series company Muscle Baby Doll remained atop the division standings with 175 points, followed by Elegant Serenity, who picked up her second Gold trophy with a 1:55 effort in the second division. The Kadabra daughter took command of the race heading for the half-way marker and stayed game to the wire, holding off Youre Majestic and Danielle Hall by one-half length.

Roger Mayotte of Mississauga, ON trains and drives Elegant Serenity for owner-breeder Doug Millard of Woodstock. In 10 sophomore starts the daughter of former Ontario Sires Stakes star Elegantimage has tallied six wins, one second and two thirds for earnings of C$356,665. In four Gold Series starts the filly posted two wins, one second and one fifth-place result for a total of 130 points.

The top 10 point earners in all eight trotting and pacing divisions will now begin preparing their battle plans for the Oct. 10 Super Finals at Woodbine Racetrack, where a total of C$2 million will be on the line.