Despite being parked every step of the way, Northern Royale mustered up enough courage and toughness to post a 1:55.4 score in Thursday’s opening leg of the Wine & Roses Trotting Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Northern Royale floated out from Post 8 for driver Sylvain Filion, but the pair didn’t manage to find a seat at the rail. Filion opted to stay outside with the Julie Walker trainee and follow cover in the early stages off the mile.
Arvika shot to the top and posted a first quarter clocked in :28.2. Cornerstone popped from the two-hole in the backstretch, and she wound up battling with a first-over Villefranche AS to the mid-way point in :58.3 before the latter cleared to the top.
Northern Royale was tracking the cover of Villefranche AS, and when she lost that cover she continued to dig in and battle. Villefranche AS and Northern Royale sailed by the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1 before Northern Royal edged by Villefranche AS in the closing strides. Northern Royale won by a half-length margin over Villefranche AS in 1:55.4, with third prize going to Club Belvedere.
The four-year-old daughter of Royalty For Life-Dover Miss improved her 2020 record to 2-0-0 from four tries while pushing her lifetime win total to eight. The career winner of $89,995 is owned by Brenda Walker, Barry Klages and Nancy Holmes.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.