Thru The Wickets and Lady Driver took home the gold in Thursday evening’s Harvest Series finals at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The $47,500 final for trotting fillies and $50,200 final for pacing fillies wrapped up the three-week event for Ontario sired three-year-old fillies.
Thru The Wickets tipped three-wide from fifth shortly before three-quarters and powered down the centre of the track to win the trotting final by a length and three-quarters in 1:57.1. Trevor Henry guided the daughter of Kadabra to victory for trainer Shane Weber.
Warrawee Ultra shot from the rail and led by open-lengths to three-quarters in 1:26.1. The leader was all done at the head of the lane, allowing rivals from well-back to pick up the pieces.
Thru The Wickets took the top spot over runner-up Northern Royale, who rallied from eighth, while Club Belvedere crossed the line third after racing a few lengths behind Warrawee Ultra throughout the opening three-quarters.
The Harvest Series victory is the second win in 12 starts for Thru The Wickets, who was unraced at age two and had last collected a victory on August 1. She now has $38,152 earned for owners Tom & Elizabeth Rankin.
Thru The Wickets paid $16.90 to win.
Lady Driver converted off a two-hole trip behind Esprit Dequipe to best that rival by a pair of lengths and win the pacing final in 1:54.2. Jonathan Drury steered the Sportswriter filly to victory for trainer Carmen Auciello.
The top-two at the finish were the same two leading at every call in the $50,200 event.
Lady Driver left from post-seven and cleared Esprit Dequipe at the opening-quarter at :27.3. The fillies flipped positions racing to the half with Esprit Dequipe posting fractions of :57 and 1:25.1.
The stretch drive saw little drama, as Lady Driver angled out and powered by for the score. Jessicas Legacy was third, while race-favourite Free Exchange was never in the mix and finished fourth.
Lady Driver improves her three-year-old record to six wins and $74,055 earned in 22 starts. Her career numbers escalate to eight wins and $110,360 banked for owners Michael Hall, CTC Stable and Our Three Sons Stable LLC.
A $2 win ticket on Lady Driver returned $6.70.
Lady Driver was part of a three-win performance on the 10-race by trainer Carmen Auciello, who also clicked with Barossa Blue Genes (1:54.2) and Pogey Beach (1:54.2).
In the midst of his best season from a money-making perspective ($3,178,194), Auciello bumped his yearly win total to 172 while his lifetime total climbed to 1,371 with the hat trick performance. He’s racked up more than $20 million in career earnings.
Live racing resumes Friday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7:50 p.m.
(With files from Woodbine Mohawk Park)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.