Autumn Series Mania At Mohawk
A four-pack of Autumn Series finals for two-year-olds highlighted Thursday’s 11-race card at Mohawk Racetrack, and there were plenty of pari-mutuel fireworks on display in the opening event.
You Cant Afford Me pulled off a 32-1 upset in two-year-old trotting filly final for the tandem of driver Roger Mayotte and trainer Scott McEneny.
Mayotte got away sixth with his charge while Jilona shot to the top and supplied the field with fractions of :28.4, 1:00 and 1:31. The 1-9 favourite, Powerful Mission, made a break while making a bid for the lead in the backstretch, and when that happened it was open season for an upset. You Cant Afford never left the pylons throughout the mile, and when Jilona drifted off the cones in the lane Mayotte hustled his charge through for the win. You Cant Afford Me was a head better than Tymal Reign in 2:01.2, with Jilona settling for the show dough.
It was the first win in 12 starts for the daughter of Angus Hall-Ava Marion, who is owned by Michelle McEneny of Waterdown and Teresa Davidson of Milton, Ont. The lion’s share of the purse lifted her rookie bankroll to $39,700.
Resita turned in a mild upset to the tune of 5-1 when he captured the $28,200 Autumn Series final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings for driver Randy Waples and trainer Per Henriksen.
The son of Manofmanymissions-Winkys Magik, who raced barefoot, got away sixth before coming first-over on the way to the half. Noble Prize cut the quarter in :28.3 before taking a back seat in the backstretch to race favourite Scene A Magician. That gelding, who was perfect in the preliminary legs, zipped through middle splits of :58 and 1:27.2. Resita rallied home in :30.2, and that was good enough to earn him the win by 1-1/2 lengths over Scene A Magician. Noble Prize took home third prize.
The victory was the second win in seven starts for the homebred colt who races for Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc and ASA Farm. He’s stashed $27,660 to date.
Randy Waples also lit the lamp in the Autumn Series final for two-year-old pacing fillies thanks to an impressive score with the Bob McIntosh-trained Out Of Sight.
The homebred daughter of Mach Three-You See L A got away fourth, but Waples had her on the move as the field chased Southwind Jinga to the quarter pole in :28.3. Manhattan Play popped off the rail and brushed to the top, but her time on the lead didn’t last long. Out Of Sight powered past that foe before taking the group through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27.1. A :30.1 closing quarter propelled Out Of Sight to the 1:57.2 tally over Sheer Talent, who was 3-3/4 lengths in arrears. Rounding out the top three was Sports Leader.
Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc share ownership on the pacing lass who now boasts a 2-2-1 record from 12 trips postward. She upped her lifetime earnings to $46,500 with the win.
Mc Mach blew away the competition in last week’s second leg of the Autumn Series, and it was more of the same in Thursday’s $29,200 final for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Paul MacDonell wasted no time making the lead with the homebred son of Mach Three-Northern Empress, and together they sliced through fractions of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:24.1 before coasting home in :30.3 to win by 5-1/4 lengths over Thrownoutofbetter in 1:54.4. Taking home third prize was Osborne Seelster.
Trainer Bob McIntosh’s Robert McIntosh Stables Inc shares ownership on the colt with Al McIntosh Holdings Inc and Randy Liepa. It was the fifth win of the campaign for the rookie who lifted his cash stash to $77,050 with the triumph.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.