Moment Is Here Arrives in OSS Gold Series Super Final

MILTON, October 14, 2023 – Homebred Moment Is Here rebounded from a sixth-place effort his last time out to capture the $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series Super Final for sophomore pacing colts Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
 
Steered by Tim Tetrick, the gelded son of All Bets Off-Breathtacular outkicked favored Stockade Seelster and held off the late charge of Write Me A Rose to secure the championship for his connections in a time of 1:50.2.
 
In five previous Gold Series attempts, Moment Is Here failed to reach the winner’s circle, but recorded three runner-up performances.
 
Bred and trained by Bob McIntosh, the sophomore raced second in the Simcoe before shipping to Delaware, Ohio for the Little Brown Jug. There, Tetrick guided him to an elimination win and a fourth-place finish in the final. 
 
“I really love the horse, Bob called me there going into the jug and said he had a horse that he thought would be good on the half and he was totally right,” stated Tetrick.

He returned to the bike Saturday, making the start a winning one in the Glamour Boy division.
 
Drawing the rail in the night’s ninth race, Tetrick hustled Moment Is Here to the early lead before being shuffled by Jody Jamieson and Stockade Seelster, who moved from third to brush to the top through a :55.2 opening half.
 
Sent off at 6-1, the Hall of Famer was content to sit until the stretch. There, he asked Moment Is Here and the gelding seized the moment, pacing home in 27 seconds to win by a length.
 
Stockade Seelster battled gamely along the inside before being nosed out by Write Me A Rose at the wire.
 
“I got right where I wanted to be off the rail and I only had to go 27 to get that spot, and when Jody came my horse settled really good and tracked him really well, and when it was time to go we pulled and the horse did the rest, I didn't fall off.” Tetrick said.

The victory is the fifth in 19 seasonal starts for Moment Is Here. He now has $480,859 in seasonal earnings, with $686,721 on his card lifetime.
 
The sophomore is owned by McIntosh Stables Inc., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., Frank Baldachino, and Mardon Stables.
 
Moment Is Here paid $14.00 for the win.
 
Marv Chantler, part of the Mardon Stables, said after the win that earplugs were added and the change suited the pacer well.

“Tim wanted to light him up in the Jug so we took the earplugs out and we raced him without earplugs last week and I know James (Macdonald) behind the gate, he was pretty raunchy and tonight he had the earplugs in and he relaxed and he did it coming home,” he said.

Chantler also shared that the gelding would go up for auction next week on ongait.com.
 
“Well, I kind of liked what I saw El Ray sell for yesterday, $500,000 and he's raced against El Ray so... I mean I've been racing for 56 years and I'm not stupid, I don't expect we're going to get a half a million dollars but he's worth something to somebody, yup,” explained. Chantler.
 
Complete results from Saturday’s Super Finals are available here and replays can be viewed on the Woodbine Mohawk Park YouTube channel.

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