Sent the 3-5 favourite, Lyons Sentinel worked a second-over trip in the overflow field of 12 and roared in front of the cavalry charge to win the $316,000 Roses Are Red final at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Sept. 4).

Rocknificent ripped to the lead with Karma Seelster settling into second and Marloe Hanover moving into third heading to a :26.2 first quarter. Lyons Sentinel raced in sixth from the pylon post and flushed cover into the backstretch from JK First Lady, who led the two-wide tier to a :55.4 half as Major Occasion A came charging three-wide before faltering into the final turn.

JK First Lady drew alongside Rocknificent to three-quarters in 1:22.4, but began to retreat into the straightaway as Lyons Sentinel soared off cover. The four-year-old Captaintreacherous mare kicked past Rocknificent through the lane to stop the clock in 1:49.1 as So Much More motored from the backfield to take third and Karma Seelster held fourth.

“I get to come here for this – this is my third time for this race. That is so big,” trainer Jim King Jr. said after the race. “The first time we really came here and won a big race, it was the North America Cup with Wakizashi [Hanover]. Both the horses, this one and Wakizashi, have Canadian connections from Truro and here… and that’s pretty special. It’s pretty good stuff for an old man. I came with the best horse and the best guy.”

“Anytime you get to win a prestigious race, especially like a big stage here at Woodbine Mohawk – you’re racing against the best horses, best guys in the country and the best trainers. Like I always say, if you can hit the board you’re doing good but if you can win it its amazing. She’s only four and competing at a very high level. She’s a different kind of horse than [Anndrovette and Shartin N] but I tell you what, she’s finding a better spot in my heart every day.

“With the two trailers, it could’ve been a real cluster but luckily there was enough leaving out of there and I got to slide over to get in a two-wide spot. I was a little worried at the half – :55 and a piece to the half, I was like ‘Man, that’s pretty slow for these.’ But luckily my mare was really good today and we got the job done.”

Owned by Threelyonsracing, Lyons Sentinel won her sixth race from 12 starts this season and her 18th from 40 overall, earning $1,794,792. She paid $3.40 to win.

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