Hape and Dublin Rose turned in career-best performances while winning their respective Autumn Series finales Monday night (November 3) at Woodbine Racetrack.
The three-week Autumn Series for Ontario-sired two-year-old fillies wrapped up Monday night with the $31,600 final for the trotters and the $30,200 final for the pacers.
The top 10 money earners, who entered the final, from the first two legs contested the finales.
Hape and trainer/driver Jack Moiseyev got up in deep stretch to win the Autumn Series final for the two-year-old filly trotters.
Cum Laude Hall, the 4-5 favourite, got away second and was sent first up on the way to the half by driver Scott Zeron. Leader Mischief Smile and Trevor Henry didn’t allow Cum Laude Hall to clear without a bit of a fight, as the fillies slugged it out to the half in :58.3. Cum Laude Hall posted a third panel of :29 and looked to be in control as the field entered the stretch, but Mischief Smile came off the rail and quickly corralled Cum Laude Hall.
However, Hape, who was sitting third the majority of the mile, also took her shot at the leaders and powered by the top two in deep stretch to win by half a length in a career-bests clocking of 1:57.2. Mischief Smile took the place spot over Cum Laude Hall, while Yanks Ball Girl and Meadow Seelster finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
The daughter of Pilgrims Taj entered the series finale off a tenth-place finish in the opening leg and a second-place finish in the second leg. She was a recent purchase from the Fall Extravaganza Mixed Sale for $23,000 by new owners Joanne Colville and Nancy MacNevin.
The series final victory was the second win in ten starts for the rookie trotter, and the lion’s share of the purse boosted her career earnings to $27,900.
Dublin Rose made it back-to-back victories capturing the pacing filly final in a lifetime best clocking of 1:53.3.
Driven by Trevor Henry, Dublin Rose got away third and sat comfortably there, as Tessa Seelster hung up opening panels of :27.1 and 55.4. In the third quarter, Henry sent Dublin Rose first up to challenge Tessa Seelster and the fillies dueled by the three-quarter pole in 1:24.2.
In the stretch, Dublin Rose overtook the lead and fought off an outside challenge from Evas Girl, who got a second over trip, to win by three-quarters of a length. Tessa Seelster held on for third, while Marachere and Lady Hill picked up the last two cheques.
A daughter of Major In Art, Dublin Rose is owned and trained by Allen Tomlinson and has now hit the board in seven of nine career starts. The homebred entered Monday night’s final off a third-place effort in round one and a victory in last week’s second leg.
It was the third lifetime win for the pacing lass who watched her bankroll climb to $37,970 with the victory.
(WEG)
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.