Grand Circuit two-year-olds invaded Woodbine Racetrack on Friday night (November 11) for the eliminations of the Valley Victory and Three Diamonds, part of the Fall Four series.
Each stake featured two $25,000 eliminations, with the other two events in the Fall Four, the Governor’s Cup and Goldsmith Maid, going directly to a final.
A group of 15 two-year-old trotting colts and geldings were split into a pair of eliminations to decide the field for the Valley Victory.
Snowstorm Hanover turned in a huge performance to win the first elimination in 1:55.1.
The Ron Burke trainee was sent right to the front from post seven by driver Matt Kakaley. Snowstorm Hanover hung up fractions of :28, :58.2 and 1:27. Snowstorm Hanover took off on his rivals at the top of the lane and powered home in :28 for a two and a half length victory. International Moni finished second, while Andy M edged out stablemate Fraser Ridge for third. Quadrangle finished fifth to grab the a spot in next week’s final.
William Wellwood Memorial champion Seven And Seven went off as the public’s choice in the first elimination, but made a break just after the start.
A son of Muscle Massive, Snowstorm Hanover was coming into Friday’s elimination with plenty of momentum after a victory in last week’s Matron Stakes.
“I wanted to put him in play and make sure he was up close, make sure we got a spot in the final no matter what,” said Kakaley post-race. “He’s good on the front and once I got there pretty easy, he was strong right through the wire.”
Snowstorm Hanover now has five wins and $193,519 earned in 13 starts this season. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, Phillip Collura and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Snowstorm Hanover paid $9.10 to win.
In the second elimination, Jake converted off a perfect two-hole trip for a 1:55.4 victory.
The Luc Blais trainee and driver Sylvain Filion got a perfect pocket journey in behind Moonshiner Hanover, who posted fractions of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:27.3. Jake was angled out of the two-hole at the three-quarter pole and he unleashed a strong final quarter of :27.4 to win by a length. What The Hill finished up well for second, while Southwind Cobra overcame some equipment issues for third. The last two spots in next week’s final were claimed by Moonshiner Hanover and Sir John F.
A son of Muscle Hill, Jake was coming into the Valley Victory eliminations off a fifth-place finish in the Breeders Crown final from post 10.
“He had to come first up [in the Breeders Crown], but he held on tough and raced really good,” said Filion. “In his elim, he wasn’t trotting right and then Luc [Blais] made some shoeing changes and he was way better in the final and then again tonight he was just awesome.”
Owned by Determination, Jake now has two wins and $153,966 earned in nine starts this season.
He paid $9.50 to win.
The Three Diamonds attracted 13 two-year-old pacing fillies, who were split into two eliminations.
Idyllic Beach returned to the WEG Circuit for the first time Friday since her Shes A Great Lady triumph in early-September and turned in another winning effort in the first Three Diamonds elimination.
The Jimmy Takter-trained filly got away third in a field of six with driver Yannick Gingras, while Someomensomewhere stepped out to the lead and posted an opening quarter of :29.3. The soft-opening quarter did not sit well with Gingras and he moved Idyllic Beach towards the front in the second quarter, ultimately clearing to command at the half in :58. Idyllic Beach got away with a :30.3 breather on the far turn to set up a stretch sprint. In the stretch, Someomensomewhere was angled to the outside by Marcus Miller, but despite a :26.4 final quarter, she could not out-sprint Idyllic Beach, who held her off by a neck in 1:55.3. Bettors Up finished third, while Rockette and Obvious Blue Chip rounded out the top five to advance to next week’s final.
A daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, Idyllic Beach has been raced primarily on the front this season and Gingras was hoping to work out a trip Friday, but had to change his plans early.
“The first eighth was pretty slow and the second eighth was even slower, so I had no choice but to go to the front,” said Gingras. “It’s really not what I wanted for her tonight, but it worked out. She had plenty of pace obviously off those slow fractions coming home and she did it easy.”
Owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding, Brixton Medical Inc. and Marvin Katz, Idyllic Beach is now an eight-time winner from 13 starts and has earned $632,962 in her rookie season.
Idyllic Beach’s dam, Idyllic, captured the Three Diamonds in 2010 at Woodbine and set a track record of 1:51 in the process.
A $2 win ticket returned $4.20.
After finishing second in four of her last five starts, Caviart Ally finally got back to the winner’s circle in the second Three Diamonds elimination.
The Noel Daley-trained pacing filly got away fourth with driver Andrew McCarthy, while Happy Hannah led the field of seven by the opening quarter in :28.1. Candlelight Dinner brushed from third to first in the second quarter to front the field by the half in :58. McCarthy waited until just after five-eighths to send Caviart Ally first up and the Daley trainee was three lengths from the lead turning for home. Candlelight Dinner tried to take off on her rivals after three-quarters of 1:26.4, but Caviart Ally tracked down the leader and paced by powerfully in the lane for a half-length victory in 1:54.3. Thats The Ticket rallied from off the pace to nose out Candlelight Dinner for second. Black Jack Pat finished fourth, while Happy Hannah was fifth.
A daughter of Bettors Delight, Caviart Ally had only a single win to her name heading into Friday’s contest, but had finished second on six different occasions.
“She’s just run into some really good fillies this year,” said McCarthy. “She’s been pretty much tripped out her whole two-year-old season, so she’s fresh enough and getting good at the right time.”
Owned by Caviart Farms, Caviart Ally increased her seasonal earnings to $113,229 with Friday’s score.
She paid $4.90 to win.
In Fillies & Mares Preferred action, Woodbine invader Imagine Dragon and Tim Tetrick stormed home from off the pace to win this week's $30,000 distaff pace in 1:53 by a head over Richard Moreau trainees Sandbetweenurtoes and Wrangler Magic, who were the top two through panels of :26.3, :56.4 and 1:25.1. Frank Antonacci trains the four-year-old Dragon Again mare, who paid $9.60 to win, for Lindy Farms Of Connecticut.
Following Friday’s eliminations, the finals for all the Fall Four events were drawn. Elimination winners earned the right to select their post.
The Fall Four finals will take place next Saturday (November 19) at Woodbine. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
Here are the post position draws for the Fall Four:
$520,000 Governor’s Cup
1. Miso Fast
2. Huntsville
3. Downbytheseaside
4. Blood Line
5. Some Attitude
6. Who Said Not To
7. Filibuster Hanover
8. Western Hill
9. Tuxedo Bay
10. Air Strike
11. Bettors Dream
$447,000 Goldsmith Maid
1. Princess Aurora
2. Southwind Tesla
3. Gravitator
4. Temple Ruins
5. Myammie Drama
6. Magic Presto
7. Winter Sweet Frost
8. Cameron Hill
9. Cool Cates
10. Blinded By Lindy
$427,000 Three Diamonds
1. Someomensomewhere
2. Bettors Up
3. Idyllic Beach
4. Caviart Ally
5. Candlelight Dinner
6. Thats The Ticket
7. Rockette
8. Black Jack Pat
9. Obvious Blue Chip
10. Happy Hannah
AE: Bid Writer
$404,000 Valley Victory
1. Southwind Cobra
2. Andy M
3. Jake
4. Moonshiner Hanover
5. Snowstorm Hanover
6. Quadrangle
7. International Moni
8. Fraser Ridge
9. What The Hill
10. Sir John F
AE: Lindy The Great
More to come on Friday's harness racing card.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)