50-1 shot gives trainer first win

Harness racing trainer Janaya Gallant earned her first career victory on Monday (Jan. 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park thanks to a 50-1 upset by her gelding Ey Cowboy (Brandons Cowboy).

Ey Cowboy, making his 11-year-old debut, sat the pocket for Phil Hudon as Too Much Duncan (Tyler Jones) set fractions of :28.3, :58.3, and 1:27.2 with No Time At All (James MacDonald) pressing first-up from just past the half.

No Time At All dispatched the fading Too Much Duncan in mid-stretch, but Ey Cowboy also found room at the rail commenced a battle with the new leader. Ey Cowboy pushed his neck in front in the late stages and hung on to prevail in the stretch duel in 1:56.4.

No Time At All was second. Coin Flip (Doug McNair) circled from eighth to complete the ticket.

EY COWBOY REPLAY

In addition to Gallant’s maiden-breaking win, it was Ey Cowboy’s first since last May. The gelding made his debut for the trainer on Dec. 11 after she and Kearsten Steele bought him and brought him to Ontario from New York. He has now earned $223,692 and has won 34 times in 306 career appearances. Gallant made her training debut in November 2022 with Sentbycaptnmorgan and has recorded eight more starts since. Ey Cowboy is her second trainee.

Ey Cowboy’s 50-1 stunner was overshadowed later on the card when Kinkaid Seelster (Big Jim) won a race for the first time since March 2022 at 66-1. The six-year-old showed one top-three finish in his prior five starts since moving to Woodbine Mohawk Park with trainer Gabriella Sasso. On Monday, Travis Cullen gave him a second-over trip, and the gelding stormed to the lead in mid-stretch and held off 19-1 shot Saulsbrook Boomer (Sylvain Filion) by a head for the 1:54.4 victory. Sir A (Trevor Henry) came from last at 48-1 and completed a $9,804 triactor.

KINKAID SEELSTER REPLAY

The next race date at Woodbine Mohawk Park is set for Thursday, Jan. 25. The 10-race card will kick off at 7:10 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink