It was a night designated for fillies Thursday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, as trotters battled in a trio of OSS Grassroots divisions and pacers waged war in the opening leg of the Whenuwishuponastar Series.

Only eight pacing fillies entered the opening round of the Whenuwishuponastar Series, and that number was reduced to seven with a scratch. The betting public was on the bandwagon of Candlelight Dinner, and the 1-9 favourite didn’t disappoint. Fresh off a 1:54.1 score in her debut, the daughter of American Ideal-Time N Again cruised to a six-length triumph in Thursday’s $14,000 assignment.

Jonathan Drury had her third and parked at the quarter pole, but they gained the lead in the backstretch. The filly hit the half in :58.3 before giving way to Touching Thought as the group headed toward the final turn. Candlelight Dinner was back out and moving coming out of the final turn, and little separated her and Touching Thought at the three-quarter pole in 1:27. A :27.2 closing frame helped Candlelight Dinner cruise to the facile win over Black Jack Pat and Moment To Ponder.

Casie Coleman trains the precocious pacer for Mac Nichol, Let It Ride Stables Inc and Howard Taylor. Purchased for $110,000 from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale, the filly has banked $14,000 to date.

Inner Drive hauled home the first piece of OSS hardware thanks to a maiden-breaking triumph in her $18,000 division. The homebred daughter of Kadabra-Urge To Splurge got away second for driver Paul MacDonell before marching to the lead in the backstretch. She hit the half in 1:00 before turning over the top spot to Hab Faith as the field headed towards the final turn. Hab Faith hit the three-quarter pole in 1:29.1, but she passed in the closing strides by the rallying Inner Drive. Her :30.1 closing speed helped propel her to the 1:59.4 score over Hab Faith and Parkhill Nocredit.

The victory improved the youngster’s record to 1-1-0 from three tries for the partnership of Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, C S X Stables and Dave Boyle. The Bob McIntosh-trained lass is the first foal out of a half-sister to Text Me (1:54.3 - $931,853).

Powerful Mission rallied to an easy win in the second division despite being asked to do the first-over work. Phil Hudon angled her off the rail in the backstretch and asked her to go after Whole Lot Of Sugar who supplied fractions of :29.2, 1:00 and 1:30.2. Powerful Mission dug in down the lane and used her :28.4 closing speed to win by three-lengths over race favourite Man Shes Hot in 1:59.2. Whole Lot Of Sugar settled for third prize in the $18,000 affair.

Kevin St. Charles trains the daughter of Manofmanymissions-The Power Of Magic for E C S Racing LLC of Rockford, MI. The filly has banked $9,700 to date.

Anikadabra powered to the lead from Post 7 and went coast-to-coast for driver Rick Zeron in 1:59.3. The Rob Fellows trainee carved out panels of :28.4, :59.2 and 1:29.4 before sailing home in :29.4 to win by three lengths over race favourite P C Pipe Dream. Third money was earned by the pocket-sitting Late Shift.

The daughter of Kadabra-Anikawiesahalee is a homebred owned by Edward Wilson of Seagrave, Ont. and Michael Pozefsky of Saratoga Springs, NY. The lion’s share of the loot lifted the rookie’s bankroll to $10,440.

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