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An emerging superstar from Indiana captured Canada’s signature harness race on Saturday. But it was also a special moment for a Woodbine Mohawk Park favourite.
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Driver James MacDonald won his first North America Cup, driving Odds On Mr Mamba to victory in the $1-million race. A top driver on the Mohawk circuit for the past few years, he recalled only watching the race from afar in his early years.
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“It was a dream come true,” MacDonald said. “I watched my brother (Mark) win with Sportswriter (in 2010). I was at Kawartha Downs never thinking I would be doing anything like this.”
“It’s pretty special for me.”
Odds On Mr Mamba set shop in mid-pack midway through the race while favourite and reigning horse of the year Beau Jangles led the field to the stretch. MacDonald took his gelding to the middle of the track and charged past the pacesetter and second-place finisher to win in 1:48 1/5.
“I was so confident with the draw and the way the race set up,” MacDonald said. “I thought I was going to get a good trip.”
Odds On Mr Mamba distinguished himself last year when he set a world record for two-year-old pacers, winning an Indiana sires stakes race in 1:47 4/5. Now the Melanie Wrenn trainee is at the top of the three-year-old pacing division. Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Odds On Mr Mamba moved past the $1 million mark in career earnings.
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Also Saturday, Loua Dipa needed the entire stretch to get the better of Be Perfect Bg to win the $420,000 Fan Hanover final. Driven by Ronnie Wrenn for trainer Ron Burke, Loua Dipa now has 11 wins in 16 starts.
Miki and Minnie took command early in the stretch and held on to win the $320,000 Roses Are Red. MacDonald drove the Chris Ryder-trained four-year-old mare who was sent off as the 8-5 favourite.
Bourbonista took an inside path and dominated the $215,000 Armbro Flight, lighting the toteboard at 43-1. Dexter Dunn steered the five-year-old mare to her seventh career win for trainer Marcus Melander.
Neighver Punt made a late move to collar 3-5 favourite Magic Punk to win the $240,000 Goodtimes for three-year-old trotters. Sent off at 5-2 and also driven by Dunn, Neighver Punt now has three wins for Melander.
Dunn also won the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup with Ervin Hanover, who overcame post nine and got up in the shadow of the wire. The Canadian record holder now has 28 career wins.
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