The Surreal Ideal show hit the road again this week, this time visiting Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, Oct. 25, and the gelding ignited late to capture the $75,000 Free For All Pace for his sixth Open-level victory in a row.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. kept the well-travelled gelding, a winner of top-tier events at four tracks in the last two months, out of the early battle for control and dropped him in sixth from post five. Up front, Ruthless Hanover (Scott Zeron) cut a :26.1 first quarter before trading the lead with Redwood Hanover (Jason Bartlett) and taking the top spot again before the half in :53.4.
Surreal Ideal stuck to the cones, advancing on the inside as rivals swung out at three-quarters in 1:20.2, and was locked in behind a duelling trio of leaders into the last eighth of a mile. A gap opened to the outside in deep-stretch, and Surreal Ideal drifted out and exploded in the final metres to nail Bythemissal (Yannick Gingras) by a head for the 1:47.2 victory. Ruthless Hanover was a game third.
Surreal Ideal has now won six straight races for trainer Vernon Beachy, defeating top pacers at The Meadows, Northfield Park, and Dayton Raceway before Saturday’s win. The son of So Surreal-Jkmusicofthenite is seven-for-22 this year for owners 518 Group LLC of Middlefield, Ohio and Gitup Racing of Garrettsville, Ohio. The win was the seven-year-old’s 37th lifetime in 124 starts, and he has now earned $646,421. He paid $8.20 to win.
Papis Rocket launched from the pocket and kicked away to win the Breeders Crown Saturday undercard sub-feature, the $50,000 Three-year-old Open Pace. He slid in behind early leader Waffle Blue Chip (Tim Tetrick) and took the tow through first-half panels of :26.1 and :54.2 until James MacDonald right-lined him approaching three-quarters in 1:21.3. Papis Rocket muscled past Waffle Blue Chip in the stretch, and the colt cruised home under wraps to win in 1:48.3. Waffle Blue Chip held second, 2-1/4 lengths behind the winner, followed by a closing Fifth And Five (Jody Jamieson).
Papis Rocket recorded his first win of the year after 16 outings against stakes foes. A Pennsylvania champion at two, the Ron Burke-trained sophomore is now seven-for-32 lifetime with $592,943 in earnings. The son of Papi Rob Hanover-Real Touch is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, Pa., Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, Pa., Knox Services Inc. of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Slaughter Racing Stable LLC of Prospect, Ky. His win payout was $4.40.
For Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Surreal Ideal winning on Oct. 25)