Its Saturday Night cut the mile and fended off odds-on favourite Brue Hanover and Poseidon Seelster down the stretch to win the $40,000 Open Pace on Saturday, March 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Louis-Philippe Roy sent Its Saturday Night out from post five to secure the front ahead of Brue Hanover (James MacDonald) on the first turn. The leader completed the first quarter in :27.3 and cruised on an uncontested reign through the middle fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.2, with Brue Hanover popping the pocket at three-quarters. He drifted out as he took aim at the leader while Poseidon Seelster (Bob McClure) rallied at the pylons. Brue Hanover gained relentlessly to the line, but Its Saturday Night got there with his nose in front to score in 1:52.4. Poseidon Seelster was third.

Its Saturday Night, returning after two weeks off, won for the third time in four starts and improved to four-for-eight in his five-year-old campaign. Dave Menary trains the gelding for Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, Pa. The son of Always B Miki-Night Music has amassed 15 victories and $534,316 in earnings in 61 career starts. He paid $5.30 to win.

James MacDonald won five straight races on the 12-race card, extending his lead in the drivers’ standings. He started the streak in the second race as Bettor B Going ($3.90) set sail off cover to score in 1:52.3, and he then got 40-1 shot Whatchulookin At ($82.20) home off a third-over trip in 1:53.3. His next two wins came with Solidarity ($11.60, 1:54), in another off-the pace effort, and Uncle Shank A ($4.40), who made two early moves to a 1:51.3 victory. MacDonald completed his haul in the sixth race, overseeing a closing effort with Seriously Hanover ($4.10) in a 1:53 win.

The reinsman leads the Mohawk standings with 60 wins so far this year, 14 ahead of Travis Cullen in second. He is 60-for-283 overall this season.

Stormalong ($8.70) and Batterup Hanover ($7.10) won the first-leg Pop-Up Series divisions on the card, scoring in 1:51.4 and 1:53.2, respectively. The series is for pacers that have started for a purse of $11,000 or less this season with winners over $120,000 last year ineligible.

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

(Standardbred Canada)