Two-year-old trotters found themselves in the spotlight Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, as the oval hosted first round action in the Pure Ivory Series and the Define The World Series.
Someone else who found the spotlight was trainer Mike Keeling, who sent out the winners in each of the divisions.
First up were the boys in the $14,000 Define The World, and Smart As Hill rallied for a 4-1 upset for Keeling and driver Roger Mayotte.
The son of Muscle Hill-Smarty Pants grabbed a two-hole trip behind race favourite Steuben Hanover. That foe sliced out fractions of :29.4, :59.2 and 1:28.2 before heading into the lane and bearing out in deep stretch. That allowed Mayotte to rally up the inside with Smart As Hill, who used a :28.4 closing panel to prevail by a neck over Steuben Hanover in 1:57.3. Taking home third prize was Cesar Duharas.
Dreamville Stable of Cambridge and Harbor Racing Stable LLC of Aurora share ownership on the youngster who now boasts a 1-1-1 record from three trips to the track. Purchased for $70,000 from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale, Steuben Hanover has banked just over $12,000 to date.
Stablemate Dark As A Pocket took matters into her own hands in the $14,000 Pure Ivory division, winning over her female foes in a career-best clocking of 1:58.
Paul MacDonell hustled the Keeling trainee to the lead from Post 4, and together they whacked out fractions of :27.4, :58 and 1:28.2 before trotting home in :29.3 to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Confession Session. Sette Deo closed from far back to finish third.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the daughter of Trixton-Mariongotchocolate nabbed her second win from just four trips postward. Purchased for $90,000 from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale, the filly has potted more than $16,000 so far in her career for Dreamville Stable of Cambridge.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.