The first race at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday, Nov. 28 came right down to the wire, with the astute and accurate track announcer Ken Middleton unable to separate pacesetter Happy Neighs and the late-closing Hervey Hanover at the 1:55.2 finish.
No fault to Ken on this one, as those two horses finished in unison with a rare dead heat to win.
The way the race — a $12,000 conditioned event — was shaping up, neither of those two horse looked to factor in the outcome as favoured Tua Many Captains and driver Louis-Philippe Roy had command of the tempo through the opening half mile. Heading to the third quarter, that outlook changed dramatically when Tua Many Captains self-destructed on top to eliminate the favourite from contention.
As a result, pocket-sitting Happy Neighs (Jody Jamieson) inherited the lead around the far turn and fended off challenger Hestonator (J.R. Plante) through a 1:25 third station. Billy Davis Jr. fanned Hervey Hanover widest of all off third over cover as the backfield began to make gains on Happy Neighs. At the wire, Happy Neighs and Hervey Hanover reached up as a tandem with the win print showing the dead heat. Hestonator stayed for third, just a half length back with the top five horses within a length of each other at the finish.
Happy Neighs (Sportswriter - Shake It Sugar) picked up his eighth win of the campaign and ninth tally lifetime for trainer Derick Anderson and owner Russ Gourlie of Orangeville, Ont. The four-year-old horse now sports more than $60,000 in earnings, and he returned $11.30 to win.
Carmen Auciello trains 25-time winner Hervey Hanover, an eight-year-old Somebeachsomewhere - Her Music Rocks gelding owned by Daniel Sarafian of Unionville, Ont. His bankroll rose to $339,483 as a result of the victory, where he paid $6.30 to win.
For the full results from the card of harness racing just outside of Campbellville, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)