Lyons Liberty sailed past the top four in Woodbine Mohawk Park‘s top condition on Thursday, Feb. 25.
There was copious harness racing action up front; Hes Swift won the early duel and took the driver’s seat, but Lobel Bruiser pulled the trigger after a 28 opening panel. The latter took over at the half in 56.1 and had no time for a breather, setting a 1:24.3 three-quarter time while maintaining a one-and-three-quarter length advantage.
Lyons Liberty grabbed golden second-over cover, rode it to the head of the stretch, and quickly outkicked it. James Macdonald asked for pace and Lyons Liberty supplied plenty of it, shooting to the top under light urging and coasting to a two-length win in 1:53.1.
His third lifetime win in this N/W 2 or $30,000 lifetime event came just a fifth of a second shy of his lifetime mark. The son of American Ideal has earned $44,532 for Threelyonsracing of Brantford on 19 starts. Tony Beaton has trained the horse since its return to Ontario in October 2020. A win ticket returned $4.00.
One race prior, 7/5 favourite Hp Starlette won the N/W 2 or $20,000 lifetime class in a similar move, but it took much longer for her to seal the deal than Lyons Liberty.
Rjs Invictus led through the half in 29 and 59.1 fractions with the field single-file behind him. Hp Starlette went first-up passing five-eighths and made it from fifth to second by the three-quarters in 1:29. Her and Rjs Invictus threw down in a close stretch drive, but Louis-Phillipe Roy sent her into another gear in the final eighth of a mile. She proved a length too good for Rjs Invictus, who finished second. Modern Mass followed Hp Starlette in the outside flow and closed for show.
Hp Starlette took her third lifetime victory in 1:57.3 for trainer Jean Tourigny. The four-year-old trotting mare by Muscle Mass has now earned more than $75,000 for owners/breeders Claude Hamel of Ayer’s Cliff and Guy Desautels of Montreal. She paid $4.90 to win.
Tourigny is off to a hot start to the season, winning four races from seven starters so far. He moved to Ontario last season and ranks among the top conditioners in 2021.
Mohawk will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 26.
For full race results, click here.
by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink