The first round of the Harvest Series got underway Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with two divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies and three divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Saulsbrook Raven took the first pacing division in 1:54.1 for the tandem of driver James MacDonald and trainer Bill Budd.
MacDonald got away third with the daughter of Big Jim-Atlanta Girl while Mystic Shadow shot to the top and chopped out the first quarter in :27. Saulsbrook Raven came first-over in the backstretch, however, and took command while racing parked past the mid-way point in :55.2.
She proceeded to lead the field past the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1 before using a :29 closing quarter to win by a length over Ms Brampton Beast. Beach Sports took home third prize in the $17,000 affair.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Saulsbrook Raven improved her rookie record to 2-0-1 from eight attempts with the win. Kelly Waxman, Loredana Cirillo and Alan Alber own the freshman who upped her lifetime earnings to $37,259 with the victory.
Kendalls Cousin celebrated a maiden-breaking decision in the second division, but she had to sweat out a photo finish to get the win.
Sylvain Filion hustled the Rod Boyd pupil right to the lead from Post 5, and together they cut the first quarter in :28.2. Kendalls Cousin was attacked by even-money favourite Highland Salsa at the half in :57.3, but that first-over bid was a brief one. Kendalls Cousin drew clear by a pair of lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.2, and she used a :29.3 closing panel to hold on for the head decision over Mia Culpa and Century Gianna in 1:55.
Sent off at odds of 2-1, the homebred daughter of Hes Watching-Ready To Win improved her record to 1-0-2 from three attempts for owners Jeffrey and Adam Eckburg of Rockford, IL. She’s banked $11,100 to date.
Sex Appeal lit up the toteboard with a 27-1 upset in come-from-behind fashion in the final division for the tandem of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Bob McIntosh.
Henry got away fifth with the daughter of Bettors Delight-Lasting Appeal while race favourite Kit rolled the field through fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:25.4. Coco Beach De Vie put first over pressure on the leader around the final turn, but made a break coming out of the final turn. Sex Appeal angled through traffic late and fired home in :29 to win by a half-length margin over heavily-favoured Kit in 1:55.4. Butterfly Kisses closed from last to finish a lapped-on third.
Bob McIntosh trains the youngster for his Robert McIntosh Stables Inc and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. It was the first victory from seven assignments for the filly who lifted her lifetime earnings to $12,027 with the win.
Goddess De Vie was a popular winner in the first trotting division for Team McNair and owner Ian Fleming of Londesborough, Ont.
Doug McNair left for position from Post 8 and sat fifth on the outside early while Royal Peach led the group past the first-half fractions of :28.4 and :59.2. Mybella Angel came first-over in the backstretch and showed a short lead while racing past the three-quarter pole in 1:29.1. Goddess De Vie was second over and driving for McNair. Goddess De Vie then kicked home in :28.3 and shot up the inside to win by a length over Mybella Angel in 1:58.1. Heid took home the show dough.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Goddess De Vie now boasts a 2-2-0 record from eight tries this season. The $8,500 payday boosted her overall cash stash to $33,746.
Princesspartypants was sent off as an odds-on favourite in the second division for the trotters, and she didn’t disappoint her army of pari-mutuel backers.
Trainer/driver Roger Mayotte got away fourth with the daughter of Muscle Mass-No Magic To It while She Must Be Magic sprinted to the lead and served up first-half fractions of :28.3 and :58. Princesspartypants came first-over in the third quarter and was at the flank of leader She Must Be Magic past the third marker in 1:27.4. Princesspartypants then used a :28.4 closing panel to win by four lengths over Susies Lady in 1:56.4. She Must Be Magic faded to finish third.
Just In Time Stable, R A W Equine Inc and Big Als Stables Inc share ownership on the rookie who improved her record to 2-2-1 from eight attempts with the win. To date, she’s banked more than $57,000.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.