Ocean Downs and Woodbine Mohawk Park offer finals
On consecutive nights this past weekend, a pair of tracks that have little in common—Woodbine Mohawk Park in Canada and Ocean Downs—both offered finals of various events.
Sunday evening at Ocean Downs in Maryland, mild upsets appeared to be the norm for the pair of series finals.
In the $10,500 Berlin final for pacing fillies and mares who had not won three races or $8,501 lifetime as of May 17, Lookstraight (Eddie Davis Jr.) rallied from well off the pace to forge a 23-1 shocker by edging 9-5 second choice Emma Sue Hanover (Jim Morand) in 1:57.4. Favored Ponder Time (Allan Davis) carved out wicked early splits of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:26.3 but faded in the lane and settled for fifth.
A race later in the $12,500 Casino At Ocean Downs final for $7,500 claimers at the rare distance of 1 1/4 miles, Colonial Road (Declan Donaway) crossed the wire first in 2:30, but the 9-1 shot was disqualified and placed last. Favored Diabando (John Wagner) was the primary beneficiary and was promoted to first, with Izzy Real (Morand) moved up one spot to second.
One night earlier at Mohawk in Toronto, Pilot Discretion (Andrew McCarthy) kicked off the stakes portion of the lucrative card when he rallied second over and three-wide on the far turn to capture the $247,000 Good Times final for 3-year-old trotting colts in 1:52.4. A sophomore son of Muscle Hill trained by Tony Alagna, Pilot Discretion has won all four of his starts this year and remained undefeated in six lifetime outings by overhauling the pocket-sitting Forbidden Trade (Bob McClure) for a half-length score.
Two races later, in the $250,000 Armbro Flight final for filly and mare trotters, Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) maintained the perfect start to her campaign when she brushed to command before reaching three-quarters in 1:23, then outlasted the serious late bid of 70-1 Weslynn Dancer (David Miller) for a half-length victory in 1:50.2. A 4-year-old Chapter Seven mare trained by Ron Burke, Atlanta has won all four of her starts this year for her new conditioner and last year's Hambletonian heroine now boasts 16 wins and $1.4 million banked from 28 tries.
In the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup for older pacers, Jimmy Freight (Louis Philippe Roy) brushed to command before the half in :54.4, rolled by three-quarters in 1:21.2 then edged clear late to a two-length score in 1:48.1. The 4-year-old trained by Richard Moreau recorded his first win in six starts this year and now sports a 19-11-7 record and $1.2 million banked from 39 lifetime tries. Nirvana Seelster gained the place spot, while reigning harness Horse of the Year McWicked (Brian Sears) settled for third as the 7-20 choice.
In the $450,000 Fan Hanover final for 3-year-old filly pacers, Treacherous Reign (Dexter Dunn) maintained the perfect start to her sophomore season when she just nailed 1-2 choice Warrawee Ubeaut (Gingras) for a nose score in 1:48.3. Trained by Alagna, Treacherous Reign has won all four of her starts this year and sports eight wins from 16 lifetime tries. Warrawee Ubeaut suffered her first setback in four starts this year for Burke, while Powerful Chris (McClure) finished a sharp third.
The $1 million North America Cup final for 3-year-old pacing colts went to Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron), who delivered a superb effort as the 4-1 third choice. The sophomore son of Captaintreacherous left to gain command, yielded to Bettor's Wish (Dexter Dunn) and 7-5 favorite Workin On A Mystery (Tim Tetrick) before the half in :52.4, angled out first over through the far turn and by three-quarters in 1:20 flat, wore down the leader turning for home and outlasted the late bid of Bettor's Wish for a length victory in 1:47.2, a stakes and Canadian record.
Trained by Nancy Johansson, Captain Crunch rebounded from an early break as the 3-5 choice in his NA Cup elimination one week earlier to notch his third win in four starts this year, and he now owns nine wins in 14 carer tries. Bettor's Wish suffered his first setback of the season, with Workin On A Mystery settling for third after being used hard to clear to command before a crisp half.
A race later, in the $330,000 Roses Are Red final for pacing fillies and mares, Shartin N (Tetrick) lived up to her role as the 1-4 choice when she gained command from Caviart Ally (McCarthy) through the opening turn, carved out modest fractions down the backside and through the far turn and edged clear to a two-length score in 1:49.1. Maryland-bred Tequila Monday rallied inside of Caviart Ally as an overlooked 33-1 shot to gain the place spot.
A 6-year-old Tintin In America mare trained by Jim King Jr., Shartin N has won eight of her nine starts this year and now boasts 34 wins and $1.7 million banked from 47 career tries. Shartin N emerged on the scene last season as the dominant pacing mare and was runner-up to McWicked for Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year honors. Tequila Monday has won seven of nine starts this year and also sports a commendable 24-11-5 slate and $970,000 banked from 53 career tries and should contend with Courtly Choice for Maryland-bred Harness Horse of the Year honors for 2019.
Sunday evening at Ocean Downs in Maryland, mild upsets appeared to be the norm for the pair of series finals.
In the $10,500 Berlin final for pacing fillies and mares who had not won three races or $8,501 lifetime as of May 17, Lookstraight (Eddie Davis Jr.) rallied from well off the pace to forge a 23-1 shocker by edging 9-5 second choice Emma Sue Hanover (Jim Morand) in 1:57.4. Favored Ponder Time (Allan Davis) carved out wicked early splits of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:26.3 but faded in the lane and settled for fifth.
A race later in the $12,500 Casino At Ocean Downs final for $7,500 claimers at the rare distance of 1 1/4 miles, Colonial Road (Declan Donaway) crossed the wire first in 2:30, but the 9-1 shot was disqualified and placed last. Favored Diabando (John Wagner) was the primary beneficiary and was promoted to first, with Izzy Real (Morand) moved up one spot to second.
One night earlier at Mohawk in Toronto, Pilot Discretion (Andrew McCarthy) kicked off the stakes portion of the lucrative card when he rallied second over and three-wide on the far turn to capture the $247,000 Good Times final for 3-year-old trotting colts in 1:52.4. A sophomore son of Muscle Hill trained by Tony Alagna, Pilot Discretion has won all four of his starts this year and remained undefeated in six lifetime outings by overhauling the pocket-sitting Forbidden Trade (Bob McClure) for a half-length score.
Two races later, in the $250,000 Armbro Flight final for filly and mare trotters, Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) maintained the perfect start to her campaign when she brushed to command before reaching three-quarters in 1:23, then outlasted the serious late bid of 70-1 Weslynn Dancer (David Miller) for a half-length victory in 1:50.2. A 4-year-old Chapter Seven mare trained by Ron Burke, Atlanta has won all four of her starts this year for her new conditioner and last year's Hambletonian heroine now boasts 16 wins and $1.4 million banked from 28 tries.
In the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup for older pacers, Jimmy Freight (Louis Philippe Roy) brushed to command before the half in :54.4, rolled by three-quarters in 1:21.2 then edged clear late to a two-length score in 1:48.1. The 4-year-old trained by Richard Moreau recorded his first win in six starts this year and now sports a 19-11-7 record and $1.2 million banked from 39 lifetime tries. Nirvana Seelster gained the place spot, while reigning harness Horse of the Year McWicked (Brian Sears) settled for third as the 7-20 choice.
In the $450,000 Fan Hanover final for 3-year-old filly pacers, Treacherous Reign (Dexter Dunn) maintained the perfect start to her sophomore season when she just nailed 1-2 choice Warrawee Ubeaut (Gingras) for a nose score in 1:48.3. Trained by Alagna, Treacherous Reign has won all four of her starts this year and sports eight wins from 16 lifetime tries. Warrawee Ubeaut suffered her first setback in four starts this year for Burke, while Powerful Chris (McClure) finished a sharp third.
The $1 million North America Cup final for 3-year-old pacing colts went to Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron), who delivered a superb effort as the 4-1 third choice. The sophomore son of Captaintreacherous left to gain command, yielded to Bettor's Wish (Dexter Dunn) and 7-5 favorite Workin On A Mystery (Tim Tetrick) before the half in :52.4, angled out first over through the far turn and by three-quarters in 1:20 flat, wore down the leader turning for home and outlasted the late bid of Bettor's Wish for a length victory in 1:47.2, a stakes and Canadian record.
Trained by Nancy Johansson, Captain Crunch rebounded from an early break as the 3-5 choice in his NA Cup elimination one week earlier to notch his third win in four starts this year, and he now owns nine wins in 14 carer tries. Bettor's Wish suffered his first setback of the season, with Workin On A Mystery settling for third after being used hard to clear to command before a crisp half.
A race later, in the $330,000 Roses Are Red final for pacing fillies and mares, Shartin N (Tetrick) lived up to her role as the 1-4 choice when she gained command from Caviart Ally (McCarthy) through the opening turn, carved out modest fractions down the backside and through the far turn and edged clear to a two-length score in 1:49.1. Maryland-bred Tequila Monday rallied inside of Caviart Ally as an overlooked 33-1 shot to gain the place spot.
A 6-year-old Tintin In America mare trained by Jim King Jr., Shartin N has won eight of her nine starts this year and now boasts 34 wins and $1.7 million banked from 47 career tries. Shartin N emerged on the scene last season as the dominant pacing mare and was runner-up to McWicked for Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year honors. Tequila Monday has won seven of nine starts this year and also sports a commendable 24-11-5 slate and $970,000 banked from 53 career tries and should contend with Courtly Choice for Maryland-bred Harness Horse of the Year honors for 2019.
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