All eyes were on Perfetto in Monday’s $34,000 Preferred Trot as the O’Brien Award finalist took aim at a fifth straight win in the top trotting class offered at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Pikachu Hanover shot to the early lead, but gave way at some point in the backstretch to the heavily-favoured Perfetto. The lead still belonged to Perfetto at the head of the lane, but he wound up drifting off the rail and in doing so caused interference to Royalty Deal. Pikachu Hanover slid up the inside and scored the 19-1 upset over Perfetto, who was then placed sixth for the interference he committed against Royalty Deal.
White Tiger, who finished third, was placed up to second while Dream Nation saw his number improve from fourth to third as a result of Perfetto being placed for the interference infraction. The mile time was 1:52.3.
Gregg McNair trains the seven-year-old son of Andover Hall-Playwood for High Stakes Stable Inc of Farmington Hills, MI. The win was his eighth of the season and the 24th of his career. The $17,000 payday bumped his overall bankroll to $277,914.
As for driver Sylvain Filion, the win in the featured event was one of five scores for the Quebec native on the Monday evening 12-race card.
He also managed to prevail with Champagne Phil (1:53), Refi (1:56), Blue Monk (1:54.4) and Texas Miki (1:54.2).
Ricottabkiddinme erupted for a 25-1 upset in the $25,000 Pop Up Series Final for conditioned claiming pacers.
The three-year-old son of Betterthancheddar-Freedom Away circled up late for driver Anthony Haughan and prevailed by a neck over fellow longshot Melody Maker. Race favourite Believe In Brian was third.
Meg Crone trains the sophomore for Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern, PA. The victory was his fifth of the season from 21 attempts and the lion’s share of the loot pushed his lifetime earnings to $37,313.
Blue Monk was a front-stepping winner in the $15,000 Pop Up Series consolation for conditioned claiming pacers.
Sylvain Filion hustled him to the front and together they sailed to a 1:54.4 triumph over race favourite Little Willy and Joe Rockhead.
Trainer Richard Moreau shares ownership on the three-year-old son of Up The Credit-Real Heart through his Ecurie Richard Moreau Inc with Claude Girard and Gabriel Moreau. The win was the pacer’s fifth of the season. He’s banked close to $40,000 to date.
Champagne Phil nabbed the 50th win of his career thanks to his 1:53 triumph in the first division in the second leg of the Pop Up Series.
With Sylvain Filion at the lines, the veteran campaigner shot to the top and carved out a first quarter in :27.2 before coming under attack from race favourite Machdavid in the backstretch. The public’s top choice served up middle splits of :56.3 and 1:25.1, but he was hauled down the lane by Champagne Phil. The 11-year-old son of Shanghai Phil-Champagne Gal stopped the clock in 1:53 while defeating Machdavid and Sonic Flare.
ICR Racing of Pefferlaw, ON owns the career winner of $645,901 who improved his 2021 record to 7-2-4 from 25 starts with the win. He hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Ken Oliver.
Capitano Italiano rallied to a 1:53 triumph in the second division for the tandem of driver James MacDonald and trainer Nicky Comegna.
The five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-On The Catwalk defeated Arukidinme Cabbie and Nelsoneddy Hanover.
Bruno Comegna of Burlington, ON owns the gelding who got his picture taken for the third time this season. The eight-time winner has banked over $90,000 in his career.
JKNR Liketell also used his rallying skills to post a win in the final division of the Pop Up Series for Team Hensley.
Ed Hensley manufactured the winning trip for the five-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis-Guarding The Gold who defeated Play Jet Ray and P L Jackson in 1:53.
Ashleigh Hensley co-owns the ridgling with her husband, Ed, and together they’ve watched the pacer put together a 4-5-3 record from 25 trips to the track this season. The 12-time winner upped his lifetime earnings to $135,685 with the win.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.