Driver Doug McNair swept Mohawk Racetrack's co-featured Preferred events with pacer Andreios Kardia ($7.90) and trotter Nahar ($9.90) as part of a four-win performance on Saturday night (October 29).
Andreios Kardia circled a field of six to repeat in the $34,000 Preferred Pace for McNair and trainer Jeff Byron.
Evenin Of Pleasure (Jonathan Drury) got the first call off the gate before Ellis Park (Randy Waples) made the lead by the first turn. However, 8-5 favourite Nickle Bag (Trevor Henry) rushed up from fifth on the way past the :27.3 first quarter mark and he cleared to command during the second panel. As he headed to the half in :56.1, McNair sent Andreios Kardia underway from the back of the six-pack and progressed to collar Nickle Bag at the 1:24 third quarter mark. Andreios Kardia forged ahead down the stretch and drew one and a quarter lengths clear before hitting the wire in 1:51.3. Nickle Bag stayed for second and Alexas Jackpot (Jody Jamieson) came on for third.
Amidst a career-year, the Badlands Hanover-Nexus Seelster gelding is 10-for-22 and has earned $96,920 in his five-year-old campaign. Lifetime, he boasts 17 victories and now sits just shy of the $200,000 earnings mark for owner/breeder Ina Madill of Innisfil, Ont.
McNair used opposing strategies to sweep this week's Preferreds as he sent Nahar to the lead early on in the matching top trot.
The 9-5 favoured Whiskey Tax (Randy Waples) quickly crossed to command from the outside post seven before post six starter Nahar worked his way up to take over the lead through the :28 first quarter. Once in control, there was no stopping Nahar as he carved out middle splits of :56.2 and 1:24.2 en route to a five and a quarter length victory in 1:53 flat. Whiskey Tax chased the winner home in second-place and Etruscan Hanover (Mario Baillargeon) finished third.
The 11-year-old Love You-Mahonny Broline gelding earned his second North American victory from six starts since arriving to compete in the Maple Leaf Trot for trainer Robert Bergh and the Sedin Stable. The 41-time career winner now has earnings in excess of $1.8 million.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.