Freshman trotting colt Unstable Genius sets 1:53 OSS record, remains unbeaten

August 17, 2026

Unstable Genius set a 1:53 Ontario Sires Stakes record for 2-year-old trotting colts while winning the lone $150,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Leg 3 event for his division on Friday (Aug. 14) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The gelded son of Muscle Mass out of Pretty Crafty is now a perfect three-for-three in his career, all three wins coming in $150,000 OSS Gold events to push his career earnings to $225,000.

The mile was nearly a full second faster than the previous OSS record of 1:53.4 set by You Got It Kemp in 2024 at Mohawk.

Unstable Genius’ trainer, Dave Menary, told Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis, “I’ve been pretty excited about [Unstable Genius] for a long time. You know, prior to qualifying, he kind of gave me the whooo! I haven’t had that in a while, and he hasn’t let us down yet. So, I’m hoping things keep going the right direction.”

Sent off as the 1-5 favourite in the field of seven, James MacDonald eased Unstable Genius off the gate and sat gapped out in third through the early going as Kountry Cantab (Trevor Henry) led the field to the :27 quarter-mile pole, followed by Grand Manalishi (Tyler Jones). MacDonald had Unstable Genius out and moving up the backstretch, reaching the front before the :55.4 half-mile station. It was Unstable Genius, followed by Kountry Cantab and Grand Manalishi through the 1:25 three-quarters and then Unstable Genius pulled away in the stretch to win by four lengths over late-closing Three Six Zero (Jody Jamieson).

Kountry Cantab was third, followed by Tuff Gong (Lous-Philippe Roy) and Grand Manalishi.

Unstable Genius paid $2.70.

The record mile came despite the fact Unstable Genius has been off three weeks.

“I thought being off three weeks, he might be a little bit short by our standards,” Menary said. “Maybe not short for a 2-year-old trotter, but it worked out, and [MacDonald] said he’s never been better… We’ve raced him very easy so far, and, hopefully, he’s got good things ahead of him.”

Menary said he’s aiming to enter Unstable Genius in next weekend’s eliminations for the William Wellwood Memorial.

In previous Gold Series action in the division, Unstable Genius won Leg 1 on July 6and also, Leg 2 on July 24. Both races were held at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A $140,000 yearling purchase at the 2025 London Classic Yearling Sale, Unstable Genius was bred by Ashley and Dean Wilson, and is owned by Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, PA.

Johnny Buckshot Repeats In Western Fair Preferred

By Standardbred Canada • April 23, 2024
Johnny Buckshot took his second straight $11,600 Preferred Trot on Tuesday evening, April 23 at The Raceway at Western Fair District. In addition to steering the Katie MacNeil student to victory in the Preferred, Tyler Borth wrote his ticket into the 2024 National Driving Championship with the highest number of points accrued in the Ontario Regional Driving Championship (ORDC). The Preferred Trot went to the gate in race two with the card's main event served as the Ontario Regional Driving Championship in races three through 11. Full coverage of the ORDC can be found here . Tyler Borth and the MacNeil student took post seven in the field of seven. With one off stride at the start, the pair backed the field in sixth through panels in :28.4 and :59.4, set by the favourite, Delgado (Scott Young). After the half, Borth pulled his right line and sent Johnny Buckshot to the outside on a third-over bid, but the pair remained in sixth. Johnny Buckshot made up little ground in the final turn before taking off down the stretch. With the swiftest final panel in :29, Johnny Buckshot chipped away at his opponents. Coming down to the wire, Johnny Buckshot won by a half length in 1:58.4 over Lass Shot (Garrett Rooney). Delgado completed the triactor. Johnny Buckshot is a winner of five races in 11 starts this year so far and 15 races from 50 lifetime starts. He moved his career bankroll past the six-figure mark at $101,762. The five-year-old Il Sogno Dream-Third Avenue gelding is owned by breeder Brad Wilson. He returned $4.30 to win as the second choice. Joining Borth on the route to Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivières, Que. for the National Driving Championship on Friday, July 5 will be James MacDonald as the second-place finisher in the Tuesday evening standings at The Raceway. WATCH FOR JOHNNY BUCKSHOT'S FULL BROTHER CHIPPER JONES THIS FALL IN THE LONDON SALE!

Johnny Buckshot Gate-To-Wire In Western Fair Preferred

By Standardbred Canada • April 16, 2024
Johnny Buckshot won the $11,600 Preferred Trot at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Tuesday (April 16) evening from gate-to-wire. Tyler Borth and the Katie MacNeil student won every panel in :28.1, :57.4, and 1:26.2 before going on to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:56.3. El Toro Loco (Travis Henry) finished second and Andy Over (Ed Hensley) grabbed third. Johnny Buckshot (Il Sogno Dream-Third Avenue) is owned by breeder Brad Wilson. The five-year-old gelding won his fourth race in 10 starts this year and 14th race in 49th career starts. He moved his lifetime bankroll to $95,962. As the bettors' choice, he returned $3.50 to win. WATCH FOR JOHNNY BUCKSHOT'S FULL BROTHER CHIPPER JONES THIS FALL IN THE LONDON SALE!

Johnny Buckshot Romps In Western Fair Preferred

By Standardbred Canada • April 3, 2024
Scott Wray rattled out a hat trick in the final three races on the Wednesday (April 3) evening card at The Raceway at Western Fair District with his last victory in the $11,600 Preferred Trot. Wray scored in the feature by open lengths with Katie MacNeil student Johnny Buckshot. Johnny Buckshot got away third as Scene A Magician (Lorne House) designated himself as the pacesetter for the mile. After the opening panel in :28.2, Wray tipped Johnny Buckshot second over to the outside behind a parked-out Heavy Dude E (Ryan Desroche). The half clicked in :58.4 and Heavy Dude E began to stall on the outside, forcing Johnny Buckshot to a three-wide bid en route to the three-quarters in 1:28.4. By the final turn, Johnny Buckshot landed in second. He passed the leading Scene A Magician in the stretch and kept going to open up and win by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:58.1. Scene A Magician finished second and Hot Fudge Sundae (Alfie Carroll) completed the triactor. Breeder Brad Wilson owns Johnny Buckshot (Il Sogno Dream-Third Avenue), who recorded his third win in eight starts this year and 13th victory in 47 career starts. The five-year-old gelding moved his lifetime bankroll to $89,234. He returned $6 to win as the 2-1 bettors' choice. WATCH FOR JOHNNY BUCKSHOT'S FULL BROTHER CHIPPER JONES THIS FALL IN THE LONDON SALE!