Pacers were in the spotlight Saturday evening at Mohawk Racetrack. Three-year-olds competed in two $20,000 Summertime eliminations and aged horses battled in three matching Beat The Heat Pacing Series second leg divisions

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Heavy favourites Rockabillie and and Betterthancheddar scored in the Summertime eliminations.

In the first elimination, it was the Dr. Ian Moore-trained Rockabillie, who got under the wire first in a career-best clocking of 1:49.4.

Sent off at even-money, Rockabillie and Paul MacDonell were first off the gate and held the lead through fractions of :27, :55.1 and 1:22.4.

Before the final turn, Visible Gold (Jack Moiseyev) was fourth and starting a first-over rally when the gelding fell, which caused interference to trailing horses. No Flash In Pan (Luc Ouellette), who could not avoid Visible Gold, also fell while Rock On Moe (Chris Christoforou) was able to avoid the two fallen horses. More information on the accident is available here.

Into the stretch, Pepsi North America Cup starter Rockabillie battled with the 4-5 favourite, Odysseus Bluechip (Mario Baillargeon) and lost the lead briefly. But the son of Rocknroll Hanover-Be My Guest came back on to win by a neck over Odysseus Bluechip. Ideal Deo (Mike Saftic) finished third.

The brown colt picked up his third win in 18 career outings, increasing his bankroll to $85,045 for Dr. Moore, R G McGroup Ltd of Bathurst, N.B. and Serge Savard of Saint-Bruno, Que. He paid $4 to win.

Betterthancheddar captured the second Summertime elimination for trainer Casie Coleman as the even-money favourite.

Betterthancheddar (Mark MacDonald) led the field to an opening quarter of :27.3. Roll On (Randy Waples) failed to get a spot on the rail and made a bid for the front, clearing to the lead in the backstretch.

MacDonald pulled his charge from the pocket and regained the front. Close at their heels was a first-over Eighteen (Paul MacDonell), who took the lead briefly and cut the half in :56.2.

Betterthancheddar was pulled from the rail a second time as they entered the final turn, hitting the three-quarter marker in 1:25.3 and then getting under the wire in 1:52.4, one and a half-lengths over Fantaddy (Scott Zeron), who rallied for second. Wild Dragon (Sylvain Filion) got up for third.

Unraced at two, the son of Bettors Delight-Lady Ashlee Ann has a record of 3-1-0 in seven starts and earnings of $60,000 for owners Steve Calhoun of Chatham and West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Ont. Betterthancheddar paid $4 to win.

Here is a look at how the sophomores will line up behind the gate for the $60,000
final on Saturday, July 9:

PP - Horse
1. Eighteen
2. Rockabillie
3. Betterthancheddar
4. Rock On Moe
5. Ideal Deo
6. Roll On
7. Fantaddy
8. Wild Dragon
9. Odysseus Bluechip
10. Risk Management

Aged pacers also contested the second leg of the Beat The Heat Series in three divisions where two longshots made it to the winner's circle.

It was the Isaac Waxman-trained All Tiger N, who scored in the first division. In gate-to-wire fashion, the seven-year-old Christian Cullen-Tiger Turner gelding paced home in 1:49.1 with Luc Ouellette in the sulky. The 1-5 favourite won by four and a half lengths over Rock Me Amastreos (Phil Hudon) with Outrageous Art (Jason Brewer) finishing third. The bay also captured a division during last week’s opening leg of the series.

The Ladies Man pulled off an 8-1 upset in the second Beat The Heat division. Driver Aaron Byron guided the five-year-old gelded son of Modern Art-The Lady Is Lucky to the victory in gate-to-wire fashion. The Jim Ritchie trainee won by three and three-quarter lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:50.2. One of last week’s Beat The Heat divisional winners, Shelbys Cobra (Paul MacDonell), finished second while Little Gold Ring (Anthony MacDonald) was third.

The Robin Davies-trained and Roger Mayotte-driven Junior K captured the third and final division in a 21-1 upset over heavy favourite Flem N Em N (Paul MacDonell). The seven-year-old son of Astreos-Winterwood Beauty took the field past the quarter then lost the lead to Flem N Em N and sat in the pocket. Junior K regained the lead in deep stretch pacing home in 1:52.3. Shipps Xpectancy (Sylvain Filion) finished third.

Twelve horses with the highest money earnings in the series will advance to $60,000 final, which is slated for Saturday, July 9.

In regular racing action, three-year-old Foreclosure N captured the $28,000 Preferred 2 Pace in a career-best 1:51.1 for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Mark Steacy. The son of Rocknroll Hanover-Pleasing Package, who finished fourth in the Pepsi North America Cup, rallied wide off cover to prevail by one and a half lengths over older rivals Upfront Hoosierboy (Mario Baillargeon) and Major Stone (Scott Zeron).

For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.

(With files from WEG)