Stakes season is officially underway at Woodbine Mohawk Park thanks to the three-year-old fillies that battled in Saturday’s SBOA Finals.
Illusioneesta celebrated the biggest victory of her career thanks to her facile triumph in the $113,792 SBOA Final for trotters.
Dalliance Seelster shot to the early lead before making a break going into the opening turn, and that left the top spot to Miss Mimi. She rolled by the opening quarter in :29.2 before race favourite Illusioneesta pocket-popped and sped to the top. She put the field to sleep through middle fractions of 1:00.2 and 1:29.4, but then stormed home in :28.2 to win by two lengths over Miss Mimi in 1:58.1. Taking home third prize was Apprentice M.
Harbor Racing Stable LLC and ASA Farm share ownership on the three-year-old daughter of Kadabra-Shesa Priority who is trained by Per Henriksen. After going 0-for-10 as a rookie, Illusioneesta has put together a 2-2-0 record from four starts this season. Her bankroll climbed to $178,568 with the win.
Percy Bluechip was bet off the board in her SBOA Final, and she didn’t disappoint for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Dr. Ian Moore.
The O’Brien Award-winning lass was roughed up to make the front, however, as Quite A Sight left her parked out past the quarter pole in :26.2. The battle raged on as they entered the backstretch, and it wasn’t until about the three-eighths pole before Percy Bluechip clawed her way to the front.
The daughter of Shadow Play-Advantest had the field chasing her through middle panels of :54.1 and 1:23.4 before she kicked it into another gear and powered home in :28 to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Sudden Passing in 1:51.4. Quite A Sight weakened late and settled for third.
“I can tell you right now I like her very much,” said Filion. “It was her first start of the year and we got stung a bit to the quarter, but when she cleared she felt very good and when I asked her around the last turn she just took off.”
Shadow Two Stable, Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc and James & Wilma MacKenzie share ownership on the six-time winner who lifted her lifetime earnings to $498,691 with the triumph.
Mcwicked thwarted Easy Lover Hanover’s bid for a 10th straight score thanks to his off-the-pace triumph in Saturday’s $34,000 Preferred Pace.
Mcwicked got away fourth in his 2018 debut while Nirvana Seelster fired to the front and threw down the opening quarter in :26.3. Easy Lover Hanover, who got away second, sprinted to the lead in the backstretch and proceeded to chop out the new two panels of :55 and 1:23.4. Bob McClure hustled Mcwicked first-over in the backstretch, and the veteran chipped away at the leader before grabbing the top spot and drawing clear to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:50.1. Isitfridayyet came on late to nab second, while Nirvana Seelster re-emerged to be third. Easy Lover Hanover faded late and wound up finishing fourth.
Casie Coleman trains the seven-year-old son of Mcardle-Western Sahara for S S G Stables of North Boston, NY. It was the 23rd lifetime triumph for the career winner of $2,404,601.
(With quotes from WEG)
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.