Two divisions in the opening leg of the Pop Up Claiming Series for filly and mare pacers went postward Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with Flysantanna and Vines To Heaven posting come-from-behind scores in their respective assignments.
Flysantanna was treated to a ground-saving trip by owner/driver James MacDonald in the first division, and the distaffer parlayed the sweet trip into a solid score in her first – and only – start for the new connections.
MacDonald dropped into the two-hole with his charge while Blink And Gone powered to the top from Post 7 and supplied the field with fractions of :29, 1:00 and 1:28.3. Flysantanna angled off the rail in the lane and kicked home in :28.2 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Blink And Gone in 1:57.2. Race favourite Erikas Shadow was third.
Carmen Auciello trains the nine-year-old daughter of Santanna Blue Chip-Flyingtomoon Rayno who won for the 21st time in her career. The lion’s share of the $11,000 purse lifted her lifetime earnings to $122,689.
Vines To Heaven rallied to win the second division in a time of 1:57.2 for driver Trevor Henry and trainer Gerard Demers.
After getting away fourth and watching Miss Rockadali fire to the front and serve up a :28 opening quarter, Vines To Heaven swung to the outside and followed cover behind the first-over Rosella. Miss Rockadali sailed through middle splits of :58.4 and 1:28.1, but it was Vines To Heaven who kicked off cover turning for home and then fired home in :28.3 to win by 4-1/4 lengths over Hannah On The Virg. Miss Rockadali weakened late and wound up third.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the seven-year-old daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven-Miss Old Vines improved her 2022 record to 1-1-0 from two starts for owners Don Beanland and Carmelo Scime. Gerard Demers trains the 19-time winner who upped her earnings to $176,492 with the win.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.