Somebeachsomewhere made a triumphant return to Mohawk Racetrack on Sunday and had a large crowd cheering in the stretch as he captured a $50,000 Three-Year-Old Open Pace for Paul MacDonell in 1:49.

The clocking was just a fifth off the track and Canadian record for three-year-old colt pacers and was the third time he has equaled that time at the Campbellville oval this season. Keystone Horatio followed all the way in second and was a solid runner-up with The Mohegan Pan finishing third.

Sunday's effort was the first start since the son of Mach Three suffered his first career loss at the hands of Art Official in the $1.1-million Meadowlands Pace on July 19.

"He certainly was no worse for wear after his Meadowlands experience," said a beaming Paul MacDonell afterwards. "WEG was good enough to write a race like this and it was nice to get back up behind him and see that he is as good as ever. I just kept him at his task, but he did it effortlessly. It's always incredible to come and sit up behind a horse like this and watch the way the crowd has taken to him."

A throng about double the size of a regular Sunday gathering turned out to watch the much-talked about superstar and were not disappointed. Just as they did on Pepsi North America Cup night, the crowd applauded the colt on post parade, in the homestretch and in the winner's circle.

Sunday's race served as a prep for next Sunday's Ontario Sires Stakes Gold final at Mohawk. It will the first time Somebeachsomewhere has raced in the OSS program.

Woodbine Entertainment has a big 'beach party' planned for next Sunday to celebrate the pacing phenom. Special collector posters will be given out, there will be trip giveaway and an autograph session with Paul MacDonell and Brent MacGrath.

More details will be announced in the coming days.

(WEG)