Older trotting mares were in the spotlight at Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday evening in the $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred, and the photo finish camera was put to work to sort out a very tight finish

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In fact, it was so tight the ORC Judges couldn’t separate Sugar Queen Gabby and China Pearls, who shared the winner’s circle after being involved in the dead heat for win.

Pembroke Heat Wave marched to the early lead from her perch in Post 8, and she threw down an opening quarter clocked in :27.4 with Sugar Queen Gabby riding along in the pocket with China Pearls positioned third. They maintained those positions at the mid-way point, which flashed up in :57.2, but Kandor Hanover made a bold move from first-over going across the backstretch and towards the final turn.

Pembroke Heat Wave was still in command of the tempo at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.4, but Kandor Hanover was just a length away on the outside with Sugar Queen Gabby and China Pearls still locked up on the rail. Pembroke Heat Wave tired coming off the final turn, and after shaking loose in the stretch Sugar Queen Gabby and China Pearls rallied to the line together in 1:55. They were a length better than even-money favourite Cedar Dove who had to settle for third after getting stuck in traffic after a slow start.

Rob Fellows trains Sugar Queen Gabby, a five-year-old Dream Vacation-Lauren Hanover mare for owner Tracy Cortese of Howell, NJ. The victory was her third of the season and the 11th of her career. The 1:55 clocking was a new lifetime best for the career winner of $143,380.

O’Brien Award winner China Pearls notched her first win of the 2012 campaign after being voted Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year in Canada last season. Carman Hie trains the nine-time winner for his stable (Carman Hie Stable Inc), Blake Anthony, Peter Kloepfer and Ted Murrell. The OSS graduate has stashed away $524,655 in lifetime earnings.

Many of the trotting mares will stay in the area for the upcoming Armbro Flight Stake, which features eliminations (if necessary) on Friday, June 8 and the final on Saturday, June 16,

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.