CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Hope For Justice kicked off the two-year-old trotting colt Gold Series season opener with a sharp 1:57.2 mile over the Mohawk Racetrack oval that would prove to be the quickest of five $42,000 divisions.
Campbellville resident Luc Ouellette crafted the front end trip for trainer Bernie Noren of Guelph and his partner, breeder Mary Katz of Kentucky. Ouellette and Hope For Justice, a gelded son of Windsong Espoir, were also victorious in two qualifiers at Mohawk in preparation for Thursday night’s Ontario Sires Stakes debut.
In the second division driver Mike Saftic of Campbellville opted for a stalking trip behind pacesetter Dontcheatonmenow. As the colts turned for home Saftic hit the gas on Aggressive and the colt lived up to his name, charging home to a 1:59.4 victory. Guelph resident Garth Gordon trains Aggressive for his partners Robert Lee and James Walker of Port Perry. The trio acquired the Kadabra son from last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale for $24,000.
Dream Rocker and Mr Lover captured the third and fourth Gold Series divisions, and Muscle Matters closed out the evening’s festivities with a 2:00 clocking in the fifth division. Milton resident Mario Baillargeon piloted Muscle Matters to the win for his brother Benoit Baillargeon of Rockwood and his partners Nunzio Vena of Bolton, Santo Vena of Brampton, and Richard Thompson of London. The partners offered up $17,000 for the Muscle Mass son at last fall’s Canadian Yearling Sale.
The two-year-old trotting colts make their second Gold Series start at Grand River Raceway on July 22.
Mohawk Racetrack’s action packed schedule of Ontario Sires Stakes events continues on Friday, July 5 with the Gold Series season opener for the two-year-old trotting fillies.
For complete results please go to Mohawk Racetrack Results — Thursday, July 4, 2013