Two-year-old trotting filly Willys Home Run continued her divisional dominance on Friday night (Sept. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a 1:55.3 victory to remain undefeated through five legs of the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series.
Two-year-old trotters wrapped up Gold Series action competing in a four $100,000-plus divisions ahead of the season-ending Super Finals coming up on Oct. 13.
After getting away third behind a pair of early leavers through a :29.1 opening quarter, driver James MacDonald took Willys Home Run to the front and never looked back, hitting the half in :58.3, three-quarters in 1:27.3 and opening up an insurmountable lead turning for home. In the race for place, P L Rainbow Dash (Bob McClure) trotted up a storm from the backfield to get within 3-1/4 lengths of the winner at the end and nab the runner-up honours over Mass Cara (Trevor Henry).
Sent postward as the overwhelming 1-9 favourite, Willys Home Run paid $2.20 to win and $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering.
A full sister to Canadian record holder Logan Park, the Archangel-Rite Outa The Park filly has finished no worse than third through eight starts while banking $373,935. Outside of the provincial program facing Grand Circuit fillies, she was top three in the Champlain Stakes last time out and a runner-up in the Peaceful Way Stakes last month.
Kyle Fellows trains the accomplished filly for breeder Reg Higgs and co-owners Dr. Sara Gatchell, Jake Higgs and Yolanda Fellows.
R Liza picked up her first Gold victory with a 1:56.2 career-best effort in the other filly division.
Jody Jamieson put R Liza on the point and carved out fractions of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:27.4 before building up a seven-length lead through the final turn. Valuable Miss (Trevor Henry), the 3-5 favourite, went first-over after gapping the top group early on and tried to reel in the runaway leader down the lane, but had to settle for second as R Liza cruised home a 1-1/2-length winner. No One (Bruce Richardson) rounded out the top three.
A two-time Grassroots winner and second-place finisher to Willys Home Run in a Gold event on July 27, R Liza was the 2-1 second choice on the toteboard and paid $6.70 to win.
Susie Kerwood trains the Muscle Mass-Wishimaywishimight miss, who was $45,000 yearling acquisition at the Lexingon Selected Sale, for owners M And L Of Delaware and Alabama Harness Associate. R Liza is now four-for-seven in her rookie campaign with her earnings soaring into six-figure territory.
Griff doubled up in the Gold Series as he lowered his lifetime mark to 1:54.1 in the first and fastest division for colts and geldings.
After contested opening fractions of :27.1 and :56.2, driver Bob McClure gave Griff his marching orders from fourth and followed the cover of Mrstery Deal (Tyler Borth) as three-quarters went in 1:26. Rallying outside down the stretch, Griff slid to 1-1/2-length win as Mrstery Deal broke stride trying to duel past the front-striding Elegant Resolve (James MacDonald), who fought on for second with Masstercraft (Trevor Henry) picking up the show dough.
Following a fifth-place finish in last weekend's Mohawk Million, Griff was the even-money favourite and returned $4 to win.
Breeders Jeffrey and Lori Thomson share ownership of the Muscle Mass-Renegade Magic gelding with trainer Murray Brethour and Kyle Northover. Griff has won half of his six career starts while banking $155,700.
Closing out the stakes action, Myretirementdream brought Jody Jamieson back to the winner's circle as the colt scored his second Gold victory in a career-best 1:55 mile.
Heavy 1-5 favourite Willowtime (Bob McClure) and division leader Soar Higher (James MacDonald) left together but Jamieson held his ground from the inside with Myretirementdream. Soar Higher broke stride three-wide in the first turn and Willowtime pressed on as they passed the quarter in :27.3 with Myretirementdream landing the pocket trip. After a half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:26.3 with What About Elmo (Tyler Jones) challenging first-over, Willowtime went offstride and into the safety lane as they turned for home. Myretirementdream emerged at the pylons down the stretch and prevailed by three lengths over What About Elmo with Willowtime getting back on course and surviving a judges inquiry to hold third.
Myretirementdream returned $19.40 as the 8-1 third choice.
A Gold winner on July 14 and coming off close runner-up finishes in the last two legs, Myretirementdream took the lead in the divisional point standings.
Eli Wagler owns and bred the Il Sogno Dream colt out of his OSS graduate mare Myretirementticket. Myretirementdream now has three wins and $160,561 earned from seven career starts.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.