OSAS Pathways: Playsomthincountry

MILTON, October 29, 2025 – Twice a month, Woodbine Mohawk Park will profile a Standardbred connected to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS).

Founded in 1996, OSAS is an approved charitable organization committed to assisting in the adoption and relocation of retired and non-racing Standardbred horses within Ontario.

The program, which strives to educate and assist in the retraining and management of Standardbreds, relies heavily on volunteers and temporary foster homes to carry out its mission.

This week’s installment belongs to Playsomthincountry, a retired 16-year-old pacer who is currently in training with Bert and Susan Mollica, who train the majority of OSAS horses at their farm in Tottenham, Ontario.

Susan, who will play a recurring role in this series, opens a window into the bay’s easy-going, kind-hearted personality, and the lasting impression he’s needed only a few short weeks to make.

Fun fact #1: Playsomthincountry’s barn name is Bogo.

Fun fact #2: Playsomthincountry is a half-brother to Luxury Seelster, a $200,000 winner with a lifetime 1:53 mark.

Playsomthincountry (ON)

Foaled: June 2, 2009

Sire: Western Maverick

Dam: Daylon Luxury

Trainers: Susan and Bert Mollica

Owner: Cody Hawkins

Breeder: Seelster Farms Inc.

OSAS Program Status: In training

What were your first impressions of Playsomthincountry?

“We’ve only had him for two weeks, but Playsomthincountry is just the sweetest boy.

“When we first saw him, he’s one of the ones that made us say, ‘Wow.’ He was beautiful, very well taken care of, and clearly came from a loving family. There is a wow factor with every single one we meet, but some of them need some love – he was not one of them.

“He’s very caring. If you call him, he comes to you in the field. When Bert started the groundwork with him, he knew what was being asked of him. It wasn’t a challenge. That comes from being handled a lot. You can tell he is very seasoned in that he wasn’t just raced and thrown out in the field. The good people who owned him spent a lot of time with him.”

Walk us through some of the first steps when a horse enters your program and how Playsomthincountry adjusted to it?

“When Bogo arrived, Bert started him out with groundwork. We have a poly paddock, which is the old surface of Woodbine Racetrack that thoroughbreds raced on, in front of the barn and Bert will take him for a walk. That lets Bogo get familiar with Bert and Bert familiar with Bogo by walking beside him, then having him stop, and doing different groundwork. Things like backing up, and just desensitizing him in the sense that he’ll pet him in different areas, both sides.

“Once Bert sees he’s ready, he’ll bring him back in, put the saddle and bridle on him, and take him for another walk to let him get used to that.

“In some situations, I assist him by holding the horse while he first mounts the horse – and the mounting process isn’t just ‘jump on and go.’ He will go up on one side, see how the horse reacts to it, then he’ll get down and praise the horse. He has this saying, ‘Give me some lovin’,’ and, once they’ve learned it, they automatically put their head in his chest, and he rubs their ears and side of their face.

“After that, he’ll get back up again and get back down, do the same thing and then once he sees that with Bogo, who was very willing, he’ll tighten the saddle because he’s just doing all this with a loose saddle. This way, if they’ve never had anything tight before, if they’re going to start bucking, which is not something that normally happens but if they did, that’s okay too. He then tightens the saddle and will then get up, lean over the saddle and start rubbing the other side of the horse’s body.

“I didn’t need to hold Bogo. Bert did this all on his own. He’ll repeat this process two or three times and then he’ll ask him to walk. Bogo was very willing and accepting of everything.

“Bogo was very fast at it because nothing startled him, nothing worked him up.”

What type of home or calling do you see as the right fit for Playsomthincountry?

“At this stage, I think he’d be a really good fit for somebody who is mature in age and just wants someone to have a pleasure to ride with, somebody they could take a book out, sit in the field and read to.

“He possibly could be good for children. I don’t have any little kids here to know for sure, but in a couple of weeks, we could see that being a potentially good avenue and I think it might be.”

“Right now, though, we’ve had people in their seventies adopt who just want something they can pleasure ride and they’re perfect matches. I can see him being that at this point. He’s not a kicker, he’s not a biter, there’s not a mean bone in his body.”

Those interested in getting involved with OSAS and its cause can reach out at osashorses@gmail.com or call 905-339-6748, for more information.

Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine