'Dewey' Rocks The House
The first leg of the Miss Versatility Series went postward Monday evening at Mohawk Racetrack featuring some of the finest female trotters in North America.
Jewels In Hock won as she pleased in the first division for the duo of driver John Campbell and trainer Linda Toscano. After getting away fourth, Campbell moved the heavily-favoured mare to the front in the backstretch. She cruised through middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:26.2 before rocketing home in :28 to win by 4-1/2 lengths over White Becomes Her in 1:54.2. Missys Ga Ga was third.
Sent off at odds of 4-5, the four-year-old daughter of Credit Winner-Jewels Galore won for the first time this season after going 9-for-17 last season for KJ Stables LLC of Baldwinsville, NY. The $15,000 payday bumped her cash stash to $382,996.
The second division provided a thrilling finish with Rockin With Dewey edging out race favourite Charmed Life in 1:53.3.
Second Sister blasted to the lead at long odds from the outside of the starting gate, and she led the field through first-half fractions of :28.1 and :56.3. Rockin With Dewey secured the two-hole and shadowed that leader before popping off the pylons around the final turn and gaining a short lead while riding parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:25.2. Rockin With Dewey used a :28.1 closing quarter to hold on for the head decision over the late-driving Charmed Life. Elegant Serenity came on strong to finish third. The top three finishers from this divisions are members of 'The Stable That God Loves'.
Trainer Ben Baillargeon co-owns the six-year-old daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe-Silky Celine with breeder Diane Ingham of Mount Pleasant, Ont. It was the second win of the season – and the 16th to date – for the career winner of $523,165.
Earlier on the card Flanagan Memory captured his second straight $34,000 Preferred Trot for driver Chris Christoforou.
The multiple O’Brien Award-winning trotter came first over and drew away from foes in the lane en route to posting a 1:53.3 win. Intimidate was next best, with Rubber Duck taking home third prize.
Trainer Rene Dion co-owns the homebred with Liette Flanagan of Repentigny, QC. The six-year-old son of Kadabra-Classy Stacy is now 2-for-3 this season after putting together a 2-for-15 campaign in 2015. The 15-time winner lifted his lifetime earnings to $963,071 in the process.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.