A pair of $25,000 Opens for three-year-old fillies took centre stage on the Friday (October 30) program at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Perfect Storm delivered as the public choice in the $25,000 Pace for three-year-old pacing fillies. Driver Trevor Henry was able to settle the 4/5 shot into third behind a fleet-footed Karma Seelster (Doug McNair) and stablemate Sex Appeal (James MacDonald). Henry right-lined Perfect Storm just after the :27.2 opening quarter and landed on the lead as McNair relented for the pocket ride.
After a :56.1 half, Perfect Storm picked up the pace heading to the third panel, reached in 1:24.2. Sex Appeal was stalking from first-over but unable to make any dent in the lead of Perfect Storm, who was more than a length the best turning for home. Pocket-sitter Karma Seelster found a seam late as Sex Appeal found her best strides with a sixteenth to go but those bids fell short as Perfect Storm hit the wire a length the best in 1:52. Sex Appeal nosed out Perfect Storm for place.
A homebred owned by trainer Bob McIntosh along with Dave Boyle of Bowmanville and Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont., Perfect Storm (Somebeachsomewhere - Strike An Attitude) picked up her fourth win of the season and sixth lifetime. The winner's share of the purse lifts her seasonal bankroll to $164,384.
Tracking the leaders from third over, Fortune Starlet closed with a furious late kick to knock off her rivals in the $25,000 Three-Year-Old Filly Trot.
Louis-Phillipe Roy settled the 9/5 choice into fifth as Warrawee Vicky (Doug McNair) trotted on top through tepid fractions of :28.1 and :58. PL Notsonice (Jonathan Drury) popped out from third before the half to commence an outer flow assault on Warrawee Vicky, with Susies Lady (Jody Jamieson) loosely following that cover through a 1:26.1 third panel. Susies Lady was finding her best stride around the far turn, helping tow Fortune Starlet into a perfect pouncing spot. Roy tipped her off that helmet and she uncorked a strong brush to fly past her rivals en route to the 1:55 decision. Susies Lady was two lengths in arrears with Soprese (Travis Cullen) completing the triactor.
Trained by Meg Crone for Bill Donovan of Monument Beach, Mass., Fortune Starlet (Trixton - Fortune Dream) has found the Canadian surroundings to her liking. She sports a 3-3-0 record from 15 sophomore starts, but a 3-2-0 record in seven starts since relocating to the Crone stable.
To view the results from Friday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.