Milton At Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night, three harness race winners were recognized by the Canadian Graduate Series.
The Open Pace, Mare Pace, and Open Trot finals marked the end of the series for four-year-olds sired in Canada.
In a career-best time of 1:50.2, No Control (Control The Moment, $3.90) won the $80,000 Canadian Graduate Series Pace by 8 ½ lengths.
From gate to wire, Sylvain Filion guided Tan Micallef-trained No Control to the blowout score. At the head of the lane, the race took a dramatic turn when Whatchulookin At and Write Me A Rose hooked wheels, eliminating both from contention.
Nightime Dancer and Speaker Of Peace came as second and third, respectively.
After placing second in his previous three appearances, No Control earned his first victory of the year on Saturday. With $167,507 earned to date, he is owned by Micallef, Kiera Liberte, Ian & James Clarke.
For jockey Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair, Osceola (Muscle Mass, $4.10) won the $81,500 Canadian Graduate Series Trot after a two-hole trip.
After Passarino completed the roadwork at the head of the lane, Osceola passed him and won in a career-best 1:52.4, kicking home in :27.3. Hasty Bid finished third, and Ghostly Casper, the runner-up, trailed the winner by three lengths.
Osceola, a student at McNair, has eight career victories, approximately $500,000 in earnings, and is now two for three this season. Gregg McNair, Paul Hawman, and Willow Oak Ranch are his owners.
First-up at the lead heading into the final quarter, Talk Curdy To Me (Betterthancheddar, $4.20) accelerated to a 1:51.1 finish in the $81,500 Canadian Graduate Series Mare Pace.
Over pace-setting Powder Play, James MacDonald led the Dave Menary-trained Talk Curdy To Me to a length and a half victory. Mist Amber took centre stage.
As of Saturday's final, Talk Curdy To Me had finished first and second in four starts this season. She currently competes for owner Pollack Racing LLC and has over $260,000 in earnings from her ten wins.
There were also two SBOA Colt Pace eliminations on Saturday night's card. Two six-horse $25,000 eliminations were competed in the event for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings sired by Ontario.
First category winner Funtime Bayama (Hes Watching), driven by Sylvain Filion for trainer Richard Moreau, finished in 1:51.2. Do Better, Storm Shadow, Best Night Ever, and Unrivaled Hanover completed the top five and advanced to the championship round.
Big Jim, the enforcer, led driver Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair to victory in the second split, finishing in 1:54. Besides Stonebridge Thrill, Wikipedia, Always A Thrill, and Four By Four, these other starters advanced to the finals the next week.
The four SBOA Stakes Finals for three-year-olds sired by Ontario will be on Saturday, May 11.