Round two of the Snowshoe Series was contested Friday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, and Awesomeness lived up to his name yet again for driver Doug McNair and trainer Ryan Maxwell.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite in the first of two $17,000 divisions, Awesomeness muscled his way to the lead from Post 6 and successfully sliced out splits of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:25.4 before roaring home in :28.2 to win by 5-1/4 lengths over Big Yellow in 1:54.1. East End completed the Trifecta ticket.
The four-year-old son of Mach Three-Fancy A Dream won last week’s opening leg assignment by more than seven lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:52 for owner Martin Scharf of Lawrence, NY. Purchased late last year, the lightly-raced gelding now owns a 7-5-0 record from 13 trips to the track. He’ll tote a bankroll of $84,600 into next week’s Snowshoe Series final.
Lyons Sands also found his way to victory lane for the second week-in-a-row for the tandem of driver J Harris and trainer Bruce Goit.
The four-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Ozmopolitan, who was a 1:53.2 winner last week, stormed to the top in Friday’s $17,000 division and never looked back en route to a 1:55 score.
Harris hustled his charge to the top and whacked out fractions of :27.1, :57 and 1:25.3 before turning back the pocket-sitting Senior K. Ohio Larry took home the show dough.
Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Brantford, Ont. owns the photogenic performer who now boasts 11 wins from just 16 trips to the track. He’s banked more than $60,000 to date.
Sandbetweenurtoes made a round trip to victory lane following her coast-to-coast triumph in the $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred.
Doug McNair sent the Richard Moreau trainee to the lead and after delivering fractions of :27.3, :56 and 1:24 she sealed the deal with a final quarter clocked in :28.3. She prevailed by a head over Sayitall BB in 1:52.3. Request For Parole took home third prize.
Heavily backed at odds of 2-5, the six-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Als Girl improved this year’s record to 2-1-0 from three starts for owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. The 23-time winner recently surpassed $800,000 in career earnings.
Despite not visiting the winner’s circle, Waasmula’s connections can celebrate after her fifth-place finish propelled her to become harness racing’s newest millionaire. The nine-year-old daughter of Million Dollar Cam earned $1,500 Friday to push her over $1 million in career earnings.
Waasmula is owned and bred by Brent Vincent and trained by Bruce Goit. Her regular driver Trevor Henry was in the sulky to reach the milestone. She's a 29-time winner during her career with a mark of 1:49.2 taken at Mohawk.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.