Ontario-sired two-year-olds contested a quartet of Harvest Series finals Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and only one favourite managed to find the winner’s circle in those rich events.
Dance Hall Babe pulled off a 6-1 upset in the $43,300 final for two-year-old trotting fillies.
The daughter of Angus Hall-Dance Baby Dance was hustled to the lead from Post 6, and she had the field chasing her past the quarter pole in :28.3. Nifty Trick, who parked past the quarter marker, brushed to the lead in the backstretch and proceeded to chop out the half-mile split in :59.2. P L Molly rushed to the lead going into the final turn, and she hit the three-quarter pole in 1:30 before giving way in the closing strides to Dance Hall Babe and driver Anthony MacDonald. Dance Hall Babe won by a length over P L Molly in 2:01.1. Briarwood Belle was third.
MacDonald shares ownership on the rookie with Philip Newfeld, Felix Marion and Georgia Dalziel. The Jason McGinnis pupil is now 2-for-9 with purse earnings of $39,942.
Cool Clifford found late clearance and powered through the seam to win the $45,400 for trotting colts and geldings in 1:57.3.
Jody Jamieson got away sixth from the rail with Cool Clifford while Cousin Peter rocketed to the top and had the field chasing him past the opening quarter in :28. Race favourite All Wrapped Up parked past that first panel before working his way to the lead. He then supplied middle splits of :57.4 and 1:28.1 before tiring. A host of challengers came storming to the line, including Cool Clifford who fired home in :28.3 to win by a neck over Scarlett Raider. Esa was a lapped-on third.
Scott McEneny trains the son of Kadabra-Cool Creek Breeze for partners Brad Grant and Martwest Racing Stable. The victory improved Cool Clifford’s freshman record to 2-2-0 from 11 starts. The lion’s share of the purse lifted his cash stash to $66,969.
Thats Incredible was hammered down to odds of 3-5 in the $46,300 final for two-year-old pacing fillies, and she didn’t disappoint her army of backers.
Trevor Henry slid the filly into the two-hole early and chased Salutation through first-half fractions of :27.2 and :56.4. Henry edged off the rail with his charge in the backstretch, and in a matter of strides they found their way to the front. That’s Incredible sprinted past the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1 before using a :29.1 closing quarter to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Salutation in 1:54.2. Twin B Tipster took home the show dough.
Trainer Bob McIntosh co-owns the homebred daughter of Bettors Delight-Somethinincredible through his Robert McIntosh Stables Inc with C S X Stables and Dave Boyle. The victory improved his record to 3-2-0 from 11 trips postward in 2018. The $23,150 payday increased his bankroll to $48,488.
Shadow Of A Daut erupted for a 12-1 upset one week ago in round two of the series for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, and he came up with an 11-1 shocker in the $48,100 final.
Mike Saftic got away seventh with the son of Shadow Play-First Lady, who watched Shadow Tail serve up the opening quarter in :27.2 before giving way to race favourite Carlisimo. He took the field through middle splits of :56.2 and 1:25.3 before tiring. Saftic edged off the rail in backstretch with Shadow Of A Daut, and after riding cover to the head of the lane he tipped out late and fired home in :28.1 to win in 1:54.3. He was three-quarters of a length better than Better Than Some. Carlisimo settled for third prize.
Mike Rivest trains the gelding for owner Claude Poirier of Havre-Aux-Maisons, QC. From 10 trips postward the freshman has racked up a 2-1-1 record and a bankroll of $40,105.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.