Trainer Robert Doyle's three-year-old colt Dance Captain had the winning moves in the $12,000 second leg of a Pop-Up Series, topping the $20,000 claiming pacers in a career-best 1:52 mile early Thursday evening, June 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

With Tyler Borth catch-driving, Dance Captain led the field wire-to-wire while turning back a final turn challenge by first leg winner Diamond Ryder (Jody Jamieson), the heavy 1-2 favourite claimed for $25,000 after finishing third this round. Pocket-pursuer Always B Sweetest (Brett MacDonald) edged out the bettors' choice to place one length behind Dance Captain, who returned $14.40 to win as the 6-1 third choice.

Unraced as a two-year-old, the Capt Midnight-Dance With Me Dee colt has found his groove recently, winning three races in a row last month at Hiawatha Horse Park and finishing second in Sunday's opening leg of the Little Saratoga Pacing Series at Dresden Raceway ahead of his successful Mohawk debut.

This Pop-Up Series is for $20,000 claiming male pacers that are non-winners of $25,000 (Ontario-sired $31,250) lifetime, with allowances for age. The series final, with a purse of $18,000, will be contested next Thursday, June 12.

To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)