Ways N Means Shoots Through For Gold Mid-Season Victory

July 13, 2024

Forwardly placed early on by driver Doug McNair, Ways N Means was able to skim the pylons late to snag the victory in the $150,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Mid-Season Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Saturday, July 13 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.


"There's always a little worry [there won't be room up the inside], anything can happen, but we were following the right horse," said McNair. "We had a great spot, we had the six-hole and then there was a scratch so we had the five-hole, so I figured we'd just shoot him on out of there and try to get lucky."


With the scratch of Griff, Ways N Means was able to move in one slot to post five and he left out with 2-1 favourite Willowtime (Mario Baillargeon) alongside. Willowtime crossed in front of Ways N Means as he sprinted a :26.3 first quarter with the divisional point leader, Myretirementdream (Scott Young), in pursuit from the outer wing of the gate and landing in third.


Willowtime trotted on to the half in :55.4 before Myretirementdream launched a first-over challenge as they rounded the turn to three-quarters in 1:24.2 and started closing in on the leader through the stretch. However, the big threat was lurking at the pylons and McNair was able to shoot Ways N Means through and pull ahead for the 1:53 victory to equal his lifetime mark while Myretirementdream overtook Willowtime and chased 1-3/4 lengths behind in second. Finite (Sylvain Filion) closed late from mid-pack to finish third over Willowtime.


"He's been knocking on the door," said McNair of the Mike Keeling trainee, who first established his lifetime mark just prior to a close runner-up finish to Griff in the May 25 first leg of the Gold Series. "Mike's been working hard on him and getting him into tip-top shape and tonight he was a different horse. Whatever he changed on him this week, he did a good job."


Going from steel to aluminum shoes for the Mid-Season Final, Ways N Means, who won three of his nine starts last year as a two-year-old facing Grassroots competition, boosted his bankroll to $177,585 for owners Dreamville Stable of Cambridge, Ont., and Harbor Racing Stable of Uxbridge, Ont.


"Last year, he wasn't competitive in the Golds, but he was a very competitive Grassrooter," said Keeling. "Something went on this winter where he just came back a little stronger, a little more mature, and the first time Doug raced him, he said, 'He's a Gold horse this year.' So we were just kind of bidding our time. He's had some stomach issues and I think we're on the right side of it now [with the right diet] and when he's calm like that, he's good."


Keeling noted Ways N Means is not entirely comfortable over the smaller tracks and will weigh his options with the next Gold leg scheduled for Grand River Raceway on Aug. 14 as the Muscle Mass-Mariongotchocolate colt is also Kentucky eligible.



Ways N Means paid $7.50 to win as the 5-2 second choice.

Show Me Your Ace wins Commonwealth at The Red Mile

July 27, 2025
Lexington, KY – On yet another sweltering Sunday evening infringed upon by some intriguing pop-up storms, The Red Mile hosted a preview of future stars of tomorrow as freshman pacing colts demonstrated their talents over the historic mile oval. Hunterton Sold Show Me Your Ace (Dunn), Hurrikanelouexiii (Andrew McCarthy) and Papi Rick (A. McCarthy) captured their respective divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series by a head, neck and nose, respectively. Trained by Chris Ryder, Show Me Your Ace was the public’s second selection in the field of seven at odds of nearly 3-1. The son of American Ideal-Trip Aces Hanover is owned by his trainer, Anne Demers, Lawrence Minowitz and Ake Svanstedt. Bred by In The Dark Racing LLC, Show Me Your Ace broke his maiden in his first trip to the gate and has now earned $15,000. The colt was a $150,000 purchase at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Show Me Your Ace provided $7.78 to those who selected him on their tickets and stopped the clock in 1:52.2. 

Fletchers Field wins Golden Rod at The Red Mile

July 27, 2025
Lexington, KY – On yet another sweltering Sunday evening infringed upon by some intriguing pop-up storms, The Red Mile hosted a preview of future stars of tomorrow as freshman pacing colts demonstrated their talents over the historic mile oval. Hunterton Born & Sold Fletchers Field (Geremy Bobbitt) was the only non-favored horse to win his Golden Rod division in 1:52.3. He is trained by Rodney De Beck and owned by his trainer with Randy Donahue. The son of Tall Dark Stranger -Coronet paid $9.94 to win.

Seaside Angel wins Buckeye Stallion Series division at Northfield

July 23, 2025
There were five $27,397 Buckeye Stallion Series divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies at Northfield Park. Queen Valerie (1:57; $4.60) kicked off the winners for driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke, Hunterton Sold Seaside Angel (1:55.1; $4.80) then connected for Page and a different Ron -- trainer Ron Steck. Rhodena Blue (1:57; $16.80) was the longest priced winner of the group with Aaron Merriman up for trainer Neil MacInnis. Lil Keisha (1:57.1; $5.60) provided a double in BSS action for Page and Burke, with the stakes divisions capped by Eyes Up in the fastest split (1:54.4; $2.40) for driver Dan Noble and trainer Deborah Swartz.

Vic Zelenskyy sparkles at The Red Mile

July 22, 2025
Lexington, KY — On Tuesday (July 22), The Red Mile conducted two $35,000 first round legs of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Series for older male and female trotters. Vic Zelenskyy returned from a vacation as a victor and Black Velvet As collected her second consecutive triumph in sire stakes company. The impeccably bred ( Hunterton Born & Sold) Vic Zelenskyy ( Greenshoe -Mission Brief) has experienced trouble staying flat throughout his career yet demonstrated his affinity for the red clay with his fifth triumph over the Lexington oval. With Dexter Dunn at the controls for conditioner Marcus Melander, the stallion commenced trotting from post position five as Bargain (Marvin Luna) took control out of the gate from post position seven through a first quarter in :28.1. Dunn, however, decided it was time to place Vic Zelenskyy in command prior to a half in :56.1. The stallion never relinquished that position through three-quarters in 1:24.2 and hit the line in 1:51. Bargain came on again with a drive in the lane, but Vic Zelenskyy was best. Mister Dad (David Miller) rounded out the trifecta. Sent off as the favorite in the field of eight, the stallion is owned by S R F Stable as well as Holly Lane Stud East LTD. He was bred by Mission Brief Stable. Vic Zelenskyy was a $550,000 purchase at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is the first foal out of world champion Mission Brief’s five offspring of racing age to break the $100,000 barrier after today’s win. The 4-year-old’s stallion’s record now stands at 15-6-2 and he has banked $113,510. He last competed in the 2024 Breeders Crown elimination where he broke in the final, but he did win an elimination of last year’s Kentucky Futurity. Vic Zelenskyy paid $5.14 to his supporters.

Peace Talks wins Kentucky Sire Stakes at The Red Mile

July 21, 2025
On Monday (July 21) The Red Mile hosted two $35,000 first legs of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for 4-year-olds and older for male and female pacers. Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Peace Talks (Dunn) was content to allow heavily favored Bath Bomb (Andrew McCarthy) to lead the way right from the gate. Dunn sat in the garden spot while Bath Bomb reeled off splits of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:23.3 but he and his horse were prepared to pounce and did exactly that heading around the final turn. Bath Bomb offered some resistance, but Peace Talks would not be denied and came home in a brisk :25.4. The daughter of American Ideal-Triple V Hanover stopped the clock in 1:49.3. Bath Bomb held second and Capytreach (Andy Miller), the longest shot in the field of five at 32-1, came on late to snatch the show spot. Trained by Chris Ryder, Peace Talks is owned by Henderson Farms, Fac Racing LLC and Robert Mondillo. The mare paid $9.64 for her efforts. Peace Talks was bred by Donald Robinson, Michael Robinson, Steve Stewart and James Daut. The mare improved her resume to 40-5-10-11. This was her first triumph of the season from 12 trips to the post. Her time was a new lifetime mark. Peace Talks has collected the most purse money from her dam’s six foals with $536,329 in the bank. She is half-sibling to Fulsome ( Betting Line , $302,399) and Vici (Lazarus N, $327,261). The mare was a $87,000 purchase at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Jasper Hill wins $25,000 Grassroots division at Woodbine

July 21, 2025
Two-year-old pacing colts stepped into the spotlight with a trio of $25,000 Grassroots divisions at Woodbine Mohawk Park on July 21. Trainer Anthony Beaton picked up victories in a pair of Grassroots divisions, with Hunterton Born Jasper Hill overcoming post ten to score first-over in 1:54.1. Tom Hill's homebred son of Cattlewash-Pretty Katherine was driven to his first career victory in his second outing by Doug McNair as the even-money favourite.

Royal Captain Sets Sail In Millard Farms At Mohawk

July 21, 2025
Woodbine Mohawk Park played host to a pair of $20,000 divisions of the first leg of the Millard Farms Series for two-year-old trotters on Monday (July 21) seeing Hunterton Born and Sold Royal Captain cruise in 1:54.4 to stay perfect in his young career and Halton Hill breaking his maiden in 1:58.3 as the 1-2 choice in the second split. Royal Captain and driver Tyler Jones made quick work of the outside post seven, blitzing to the top and trotting three-lengths clear to the quarter pole in a quick :27.1. Royal Captain remained a loose leader to the half in :57.1 over pocket-sitter Tymal Starstruck (Doug McNair) while Captain Code (Scott Young) advanced into third first-up. Captain Code continued to march to the leader's wheel on the final turn, with Royal Captain reaching three-quarters first in 1:26.3. Under confident Jones handling, Royal Captain remained just out of reach in the lane of both Captain Code and Tymal Starstruck, reaching the wire a length clear in 1:54.4. Captain Code edged out Tymal Starstruck by three parts of a length to be second. Trained by Dustin Jones, the winning son of Captain Corey-You Will Be Queen is now two-for-two to start his career. Bred by Dustin Jones Stables and Hebert Horses Inc., Royal Captain has bagged $18,000 for owners Royal Captain Group.

‘Tillie’ tough in Geers at Big M

July 19, 2025
East Rutherford, NJ — Hunterton Sold Yo Tillie maintained her current standing as the top horse in her division as a Hambletonian contender Saturday night at The Meadowlands when four divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stake were contested for 3-year-old trotters of each sex. Yo Tillie remained unbeaten in four tries this season after displaying an awesome closing kick rather than the dazzling early speed she showed in each of her first three starts this year. “Her last couple of starts she’s been awesome,” said winning driver Todd McCarthy. “I’ve been racing her pretty aggressively and that was kind of the plan for tonight, but she’s come back so smart this year and she’s learned how to settle in. It’s an advantage when you can race them like that.” The daughter of Tactical Landing -Consolidator raced in fourth past the five-eighths in the $37,125 first dash for fillies, then moved to the outside on the far turn before unleashing a powerhouse final quarter of :26.3 to win by 3½ lengths over R Charm in 1:52.3. Jersey Slide was third. “I knew when I tipped and asked her that she would give me a pretty good last quarter,” said McCarthy. Not eligible for the Hambletonian Oaks, Yo Tillie, who returned $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite, is being pointed toward the Kentucky Filly Futurity and Breeders Crown, among other stakes events this year, according to trainer Andrew Harris.

Onajetplane wins the Tompkins-Geers Stake

July 18, 2025
Hunterton Sold Onajetplane threw his hat into the ring as a Hambletonian contender Saturday night at The Meadowlands when four divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stake were contested for 3-year-old trotters of each sex. Onajetplane used a quick brush to command down the backstretch to secure the top just after the half and then had to hold off a late-charging Hey Porter to take the first division for colts and geldings – which went for a purse of $39,125 – by a head in a lifetime-best equaling 1:52.1. Warrior was third.  “He doesn’t love being in front, he starts looking around a little,” said winning driver Andy McCarthy. “He got to wondering a little but once Scottie [Zeron, driving Hey Porter] came to us, he got back to business.” In the opinion of his driver, the son of Walner -Noble Lover is a Hambletonian contender. “This horse is good enough [to compete in the Hambo]. He needs a good draw and a good trip and he’ll be right there.” As the 4-5 public choice, Onajetplane, a Noel Daley trainee, paid $3.60 to win.

No Better Air Stars In Grassroots At Mohawk

July 18, 2025
Hunterton Born and Sold No Better Air was one of four Cattlewash freshman pacing filly winners in Ontario Sires Stakes action on Friday night, July 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Congratulations to owners Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc, Scott McEneny and Carlisle-Aristi Varsakis, trainer Scott McEneny and driver Trevor Henry. 
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