Sent off as the second longest shot on the board, Woodmere Stealdeal upended current stalwart Saulsbrook Victor to take the $34,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night (Jan. 28).
Odds-on favourite Saulsbrook Victor led the field by a :27 first quarter and coasted to a :56.1 half while Sailboat Hanover readied a first-over bid to the far turn. Sailboat Hanover drew to within a length of Saulsbrook Victor to three-quarters in 1:24.3 but stalled off the turn. Saulsbrook Victor remained strong on the lead but drifted in the lane, opening a seam of Woodmere Stealdeal to take aim. The five-year-old Steelhead Hanover gelding successfully collared Saulsbrook Victor at the beam to win by a nose in 1:51.2 with Wheels On Fire another length behind in third and Sometime Somewhere fourth.
Carmen Auciello conditions Woodmere Stealdeal for owners Frank Brundle, Glenn MacDonald and Robert Sumarah. He won his 27th race from 66 starts, has now earned $307,539 and paid $27 to win.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Mohawk $3m handle
Every weekend, The Meadowlands boasts about its $3 million handles. Well, Mohawk had a $3m handle last night too, although it was largely because of the mandatory High-5 payout.