Ellis Park and driver Randy Waples swept to the lead at the mid-mile mark and never looked back in winning the Saturday night (October 8) featured $34,000 Preferred Pace at Mohawk Racetrack.
The early lead belonged to even-money favourite Evenin Of Pleasure (Sylvain Filion), who crossed in front of his rivals off the gate. As he led the way through the :27.1 opening quarter, Nickle Bag (Jonathan Drury) followed in the pocket with Ellis Park mid-pack in third. However, as the compact field of five moved down the backstretch, Evenin Of Pleasure was overhauled by Ellis Park, who cleared just past the :55 half-mile mark. He proceed to three-quarters in 1:23 while Nickle Bag was unable to gain position moving out from third. Down the stretch, Ellis Park remained cleared of the pocket-pursuing Evenin Of Pleasure to score in 1:50.1 for trainer Brad Maxwell, with Nickle Bag finishing over four lengths back in third.
Ellis Park, who finished just a neck short of last week's Preferred winner Nickle Bag, paid $7.10 to win as the 5-2 third choice.
Owned and bred by the David Goodrow Stable of Cambridge, Ont., the Rocknroll Hanover-Roller Cam gelding is a career winner of more than $500,000 and 23 races. This year, Ellis Park has earned four wins, six seconds, and four thirds from 23 starts while adding $139,260 to his bankroll.
Waples and Filion both had driving triples on the 11-race card, assisting Maxwell and Richard Moreau with training doubles.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.