There was plenty of girl power on display Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, as round two of the Harvest Series went postward for Ontario-sired three-year-old pacing fillies and a co-ed group of trotters battled in the Preferred.
Emoticon Hanover was among the starters in the $34,000 Preferred Trot, and the O’Brien Award winner proved to be a popular winner for driver Bob McClure and trainer Luc Blais.
McClure hustled the six-year-old daughter of Kadabra-Emmylou Who to the lead from Post 8 and together they led the field through fractions of :26.4, :55.3 and 1:24.3. She kicked home in :28.4 to win by 4-1/2 lengths over Sortie in 1:53.2. Free Willy Hanover was third.
Sent off as the even-money favourite, Emoticon Hanover won for the third time this season and for the 25th time this year. Determination of Montreal, QC owns the winner in excess of $1.9 million.
There were three $17,000 divisions of the Harvest Series on tap, as well, as the Campbellville, Ont. oval hosted round two of that late closer.
Salutation, who was sent off as the 9-5 favourite, turned a ground-saving trip into a narrow triumph in 1:54.1 for driver Chris Christoforou and trainer Jared Bako.
The daughter of Sportswriter-Thereal Ideal stalked leader Casimir Swamp Girl through fractions of :27, :56.3 and 1:24.4 before scooting up the rail and powering home in :29 to win by a neck over Jessicas Legacy in 1:54.1. Clearly Better took home the show dough.
Dustin Jones Stables Inc, Hebert Horses Inc and 9335 6327 Quebec Inc share ownership on the two-time winner who lifted her lifetime earnings to $57,173.
Esprit Dequipe was a front-stepping winner in the second division for driver Bob McClure. The filly was a 1:53.2 winner in last week’s opening round assignment.
McClure put the pedal to the metal with the 2-1 favourite who carved out fractions of :27.1, :54.4 and 1:23.2 before using a :28.4 closing quarter to win by six lengths over Betsea in 1:52.1. Café Society was third best.
Owned and trained by Cassandra Lecourt of Ste-victoire De Sorel, QC, Esprit Dequipe extended her winning streak to three-in-a-row with the lifetime best performance. The nine-time winner has banked $44,830 to date.
Free Exchange gave driver Bob McClure a third straight victory on the card – and his fourth in total – thanks to her come-from-behind triumph in the third division.
The daughter of Betterthancheddar-Free Admission, who hails from the Jack Darling Stable, got away fifth while race favourite Lady Driver shot to the top and sliced out splits of :26.4, :56 and 1:24. McClure came first over on the way to the half with Free Exchange, and he was able to drop his charge into the pocket spot briefly around the final turn before re-engaging in battle with Lady Driver. Free Exchange’s closing quarter of :27.4 earned her the nose decision over Lady Driver, with Gentle Warrior a well-beaten third.
Jack Darling Stables Ltd of Cambridge, Ont. owns the filly who has put herself in position for the series sweep with the win. The five-time winner lifted her lifetime earnings to $83,444.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.