CAMPBELLVILLE, April 11 – American Rock with Jody Jamieson turned in a gritty harness racing effort to win the $37,000 Youthful Series final Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

A solid group of ten three-year-old pacing colts and geldings lined up Saturday evening for the final of the three-week Youthful series.

Legion Of Boom, the 4/5 favourite, came into the final on a three-race win streak and had a chance at a series sweep.

The action was hot right from the start, as the first-quarter saw a trio of horses battle around the opening turn. Dialamara, who was three-wide, would come away with the lead as the field entered the backstretch.

American Rock, who got away fourth, came charging first up in the second-quarter to engage Dialamara in a duel. American Rock would eventually clear to the lead at the mid-way point, but not after a rock-solid half-mile clocking of :55.1.

Around the final turn, Team Captain was pressing at the leader first up, while Legion Of Boom was placed second-over. American Rock posted a third-quarter of :28.1 to reach the three-quarter pole in 1:23.2.

In the stretch, American Rock dug deep and would not allow his rivals to get by, as he reached the wire first in a career-best 1:52.

Dialamara came up the rail to finish second by a length and a quarter, while Pantheon Hanover made a rally on the far outside to finish third. Team Captain, who was beat less than two-lengths, and Legion Of Boom had to settle for fourth and fifth, respectively.

A son of Rocknroll Hanover, American Rock is trained by Ben Wallace for owner Brad Grant. The sophomore pacing colt came into Saturday's final off a 1:54.1 victory in last week's second leg and had finished second by only a head in an opening leg division on March 28.

American Rock, who did not race as a two-year-old, now has a record of five wins from eight starts and earnings $57,250.

The Wallace trainee returned $7.10 to win.

In order to be eligible to the Youthful series, the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings had to be non-winners of three-races or $15,000 in 2014.

American Rock

Favourites dominate round one of Don Mills

The first leg of the Don Mills Trotting Series Saturday night at Mohawk was dominated by the chalk.

A group of 13 four- and five-year-old trotters were split into two $20,000 first round divisions.

In the first division, Wild And Crazy Guy picked up his third win from his last four starts in 1:56.

Sent off as the 3/5 favourite, Wild And Crazy Guy and driver Mario Baillargeon got away fourth in the early stages. A second-quarter move gave Wild And Crazy Guy control of the lead and he never looked back.

The public's choice finished up his mile with a :28.2 final-quarter to win by a length and three-quarters over Windsun Revenge.

Exemplar finished third, while Ramas Last Son took fourth.

A four-year-old gelding son of Crazed, Wild And Crazy Guy is trained by Martin Lachance for owners Jean Brunet & Ted Gewertz and now has three wins from 12 starts in 2015.

Saturday evening's victory gives the four-year-old 12 career victories and pushes his bankroll over $164,000.

Wild And Crazy Guy paid $3.30 to win.

Wild And Crazy Guy

In the second division, Bourbon Bay and driver Mike Saftic lived up to their 1/5 billing and scored a dominant 1:54.1 victory.

A four-year-old gelding son of Sand Vic, Bourbon Bay swept the General Brock series back in February at Woodbine and was returning north of the border Saturday off a Weiss Series division victory at Pocono on March 31.

The heavy-favourite was sent straight to the lead by Saftic and it was lights out from there. Bourbon Bay set fractions of :28.2, :57 and 1:25.1 before trotting home easily in :29 to win by 2 ¾ lengths over Seawind Pascale.

Sheer Flex finished more than 12 lengths behind the winner in third, while A J Destiny finished fourth.

The clocking of 1:54.1 is a new career-mark for Bourbon Bay, who now has eight wins from 11 starts in 2015.

The four-year-old is trained north of the border by Mike Sinclair for lessee John Cummings Jr of Nichols, New York and increased his career bankroll to over $117,000 with the victory Saturday.

Bourbon Bay paid $2.40 to win.

Bourbon Bay

In order to be eligible to the Don Mills, the trotters had to be non-winners of $150,000 lifetime as of December 31, 2014.

The second leg of the Don Mills Trotting Series will take place next Saturday (April 18).

Mark McKelvie