Two and a half months after he debuted on the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit with an impressive win at the Grassroots level, three-year-old pacing gelding Powertrain added a Gold Series win to his resume on a star-studded Saturday night of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
With regular reinsman Sylvain Filion of Milton in the race bike, Powertrain left smartly from Post 5 in the $155,600 Gold Series division and tucked in behind Bettor Sun heading to the :27.1 quarter. Filion opted not to sit behind Bettor Sun however, and the leaders battled to a sharp :54.1 half before Powertrain was able to take command. Filion was able to take his foot off the gas going to the 1:22.2 three-quarters, before firing Powertrain back up for the stretch battle. Favourite Bulldog Hanover closed hard, but Powertrain hit the wire three-quarters of a length the best in 1:49.3. Pepsi North America Cup champion Desperate Man was third. All three colts are by sire Shadow Play. (Replay: Powertrain)
“It seems like every race he’s getting a little bit more experience, and he seems to like winning. I think that’s five of 10 for him, he knows where the wire is; he was looking for it today, but he got there in time so we’ll take it,” said Nick Gallucci, who trains the gelding for owner/breeder Millar Farms of Stouffville, ON. “We’re just going to enjoy the moment and the race, and hopefully he comes out of it okay and we can look forward to him racing again in the month of October.”
Powertrain was greeted in the winner’s circle by a large crowd of supporters, who were in attendance to cheer on a trio of Millar Farms homebreds competing on the rich Mohawk Million card. Earlier in the evening two-year-old pacing filly Prohibition Legal finished second in the $500,500 Shes A Great Lady Final and two-year-old pacing colt Betterhavemymoney was fifth in the $824,000 Metro Pace Final.
“They made it through the night. It was worth the wait,” said Gallucci, of the winner’s circle celebration. “It’s been a long time coming. We just had to get a couple of things ironed out equipment-wise and mentally with the horse, and he’s responded really well his last two races to those changes.”
Powertrain delivered an impressive 1:48.2 victory in a three-year-old open on the Sept. 11 Pepsi North America Cup card, his first win since the July 10 Grassroots victory. In between those wins the gelding made three breaks, in two Gold Series divisions and his Somebeachsomewhere division. Gallucci hopes the equipment changes and some additional experience have left the miscues in the rearview mirror heading for the Oct. 16 Super Final.
“I don’t even want to think about it. It looks like he’s forgotten about it, so I am going to try to forget about it,” said the trainer. “You’re always kind of holding your breath there with him, but anyway it seems like we’ve got all that sorted out with him now.”
The top 10 point earners from the five regular season events will compete in the $225,000 Super Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Oct. 16, with Bulldog Hanover looking to hold on to the title he captured last season. The reigning champion sits atop the point standings with Desperate Man second and Powertrain fourth.
Complete results from Saturday night’s races can be found here and replays are available on the Woodbine Mohawk Park YouTube channel.
Woodbine Mohawk Park’s Ontario Sires Stakes schedule continues on Tuesday, Sept. 28 with the last Gold Series Leg for the three-year-old trotting fillies, who will compete for $156,400 in the sixth race. Fans can download a program and watch the live stream on the Campbellville oval’s website.
(Photo of driver Sylvain Filion and Powertrain courtesy New Image Media)
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