Pacing fillies galore were on display Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and they were forced to battle the elements at times during the 10-race card.
The night started with a ‘fast’ track, but that quickly changed to ‘sloppy’ when the rain clouds opened and the faucet was turned on full blast. The track later was upgraded to ‘good’ when the rain tapered off.
Hello Love was fortunate to catch the track in a ‘fast’ state, and she won as she pleased in her $19,150 O.S.S. Grassroots division.
James MacDonald got away fifth from the rail with the heavily backed lass who watched Mittany Nicole hustle to the lead and put up the first quarter in :27.2. Lifelong Dream then brushed to the top in the backstretch and had the field chasing her past the mid-way point in :57.1.
MacDonald angled off the pylons with Hello Love on the way to the half, and they advanced to be third on the outside as Lifelong Dream took the group to the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1. A :27-second closing panel saw Hello Love get up alongside and eventually past that foe. The margin of victory for Hello Love over Lifelong Dream was a head. Mittany Nicole was third. Time for the mile was 1:52.4.
Mark Steacy trains the three-year-old daughter of Shadow Play-Dont Point At for Landmark 10 Racing Stable, J And T Silva Stables LLC, Bertrand Gilhespy Stable and Conrad Leber. Unraced as a rookie, Hello Love has kicked off her sophomore year with a 3-0-1 record from four trips postward. She’s banked over $25,000 to date.
Lady Bubbles gave MacDonald and Steacy another O.S.S. score thanks to her 1:53.2 decision in division two.
The daughter of Sportswriter-Matter Of Style was fortune to earn a two-hole trip behind race favourite Firestorm for most of the mile. Color Envy shot to the early lead from Post 10, and she had the field following her to the quarter pole in :27.3. Lady Bubbles took over from that foe, but she quickly took a backseat to Firestorm who rolled to the lead and proceeded to cut middle splits of :56.2 and 1:25.1.
Lady Bubbles pocket-popped on the leader at the head of the lane, and she then used a :27.4 kicker to win by a length over Color Envy. Campassion came on strong to grab the show dough.
The Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc’s homebred won for the second time this season and for the fifth time in her career. She’s stashed away over $75,000 to date.
Shower Play made her 2018 debut a winning thanks to her come-from-behind tally in the third division for the tandem of driver Louis Philippe Roy and trainer Rene Dion.
The daughter of Shadow Play-Alice Emily got away fifth and watched Askmysecretary roll through early fractions of :27.3 and :57.1. Race favourite Neon Moon made a big, first-over bid in the backstretch, and she gained the lead and took the group to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.2. The big third quarter speed got to her, though, and so did Shower Play. The winner fired home in :27 to win by three-quarters of a length over Askmysecretary in 1:52.2. Neon Moon had to settle for third.
Rene Dion shares ownership on the talented filly with Susie Kerwood and Martin Leveillee. The victory was the fourth in six career tries for the career winner of close to $50,000.
Sudden Passing, who recently finished second in the $115,792 S.B.O.A. Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park, dropped to the Grassroots level and blew away the seven foes she faced in the fourth division.
Doug McNair muscled to the lead with the daughter of Mach Three-Gold Not Silver, and together they hit the opening quarter in :27. Aspecial Presence swept to the lead shortly after the first panel, but McNair was quick to loop that foe and regain control of the tempo.
Sudden Passing marched through middle fractions of :55.3 and 1:24 before scooting home in :28 to win by 9-3/4 lengths in 1:52. Sweet Toujours was next best, with Hey Sweetie taking home third prize.
Gregg McNair trains the speedster for Lindsey & Connie Rankin of Lexington, MI. After going winless in five starts as a rookie, Sudden Passing now owns a 2-1-0 record in her first three starts of the 2018 season. Her lifetime earnings climbed to $94,631 with the win.
Machnhope was an overwhelming favourite in the final division, and she didn’t disappoint for driver Randy Waples.
The homebred daughter of Mach Three-Hope For Life got away in mid-pack while Twice As Spicy shot to the lead and threw down the opening quarter in :27.1. She came under attack in the backstretch when Our Vacation rolled first-over, and the two of them tussled to the half in :55.1. Twice As Spicy kept on rolling, and she had the field behind her at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.2. Machnhope, who moved into the flow going to the half, made a wide rally off the last turn and used her :28.2 closing speed to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:53. Avery Seelster was next best, with Lady Everlong finishing third.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, the Bill Robinson trainee won for the first time this season and for the fourth time in her career. The career winner of $67,230 is owned by CMR Farms, David Serwatuk and BC Reicheld Stables.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.