Another five for J-Mac

Canada’s leading harness racing driver James MacDonald added five more wins to his tally on Thursday (Oct. 12) with his second quintuple in six days at his home office of Woodbine Mohawk Park.

His first victory of the night was never in doubt. Nothingbutadreamer (Muscle Mass) and he were up by five lengths at three-quarters and extended the winning margin to 10-and-a-half as they strolled to a 1:54.4 win. Nothingbutadreamer, trained by Harry Poulton for The Stable, crossed the six-digit earning threshold with the win.

NOTHINGBUTADREAMER REPLAY

Honey Love (Big Jim) battled first-up to win the fourth race for MacDonald, getting by pacesetter Pam with a late thrust in 1:54.2. It was the winning filly’s second career start and first win. Mike Bishop trains the sophomore for Millar Farms.

HONEY LOVE REPLAY

MacDonald went back-to-back with Cactustotheclouds (Alarm Detector), who slid out in mid-stretch and chased down Twin B Showmance (Bob McClure) for the 1:55.4 victory. Cactustotheclouds is now two-for-10 for owners Tom and Elizabeth Rankin. He has taken both wins in his past three starts since switching to trainer Benoit Baillargeon and getting MacDonald as a regular driver.

CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS REPLAY

The pilot’s haul reached four as he won the seventh race behind two-year-old Magical Aoine (Betterthancheddar). The gelding, on the lead, warred with Lou Grant (Louis-Philippe Roy)  from the far turn into the stretch and held him off to win by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:54.2. It was Magical Aoine’s second start and his maiden-breaking performance. Tony Beaton conditions the freshman for owner/breeder David Lumsden.

MAGICAL AOINE REPLAY

MacDonald gave the night a five-star billing as he rallied Jayport Anna May (Muscle Mass) from seven lengths back in fourth in the stretch to take the eighth race in 1:57.3. The filly passed three rivals down the lane and upset at 17-1 for trainer Jesse Yoder and owner Michael Wolf. It was her first lifetime win in 19 tries.

JAYPORT ANNA MAY REPLAY

MacDonald leads the Woodbine Mohawk Park driver’s standings with 318 wins and the national rankings with 344. Roy is second at the premier oval with 232 tallies, and Tyler Borth is just behind Canada-wide with 330.

The next card at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Oct. 13 features the first night of the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals. The four two-year-old divisions will clash, beginning with the two-year-old trotting fillies in race three. First post is set for 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink