The Valedictory Pacing Series continued on Friday night (December 18), with a pair of new winners defeating the favourites in the second leg at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The series is for three-year-old colts and geldings that were non-winners of $60,000 lifetime as of October 31.
In the first $17,000 division of the night, Bob McIntosh trainee Beyond Better caught first round rival Cold Creek Cabo just in time for a career-best score in 1:51.4 with Trevor Henry in the bike.
Leaving from post four, 1-2 favourite Cold Creek Cabo (Jody Jamieson) drove on to take command into a :28.1 opening quarter over Mr Kelly (James MacDonald), with Windemere Frank (Jonathan Drury) following in third and Windsun Azar (Bob McClure) fourth of six. Positions remained unchanged through a :56.4 half before Windsun Azar tipped first-up, but ultimately posed no threat, still four lengths off the front as Cold Creek Cabo led the way past three-quarters in 1:24.2 and down the homestretch. Springing into action late off cover with a :26.2 closing kick, Beyond Better edged out the bettors’ choice by a neck at the finish line, with Mr Kelly closing in between and finishing just a half-length back in third.
A runner-up in the opening leg of the Valedictory Series to Cold Creek Cabo one week ago, Beyond Better was sent postward as the 5-2 second choice and paid $7.20 to win.
Unraced as a two-year-old, the Bettors Delight-Somethinincredible gelding, who won the Harvest Series last month, now sports a seasonal record reading 6-4-0 from 16 starts and lifetime earnings of $86,320 for Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables.
Captain Video earned his first victory on Canadian soil, keeping more than two lengths clear of the favourites with another strong closing effort in the Valedictory for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Richard Moreau.
Opening leg winner Bee Two Bee (Scott Coulter) established the early lead over What The Luck (Bob McClure) on the way to the :28.1 quarter, but Filion made his winning move and sent Captain Video from third to first during the second panel. They reached the half in :56.4 and raced past three-quarters in 1:25.2 with What The Luck advancing first-up to apply pressure and 6-5 favourite Scootnroll (Doug McNair) hot on his heels second-over from the back. However, Captain Video unleashed a :26.4 final frame to power home a clear winner in 1:52.1 while 9-5 second pick Bee Two Bee chased in second-place and Scootnroll rallied for third.
Captain Video, who paced a :26.2 final quarter to finish fourth in the opening leg of the series, was the 5-2 third choice on the toteboard and returned $7.90 to win.
The Captaintreacherous colt out of Eitherurinorurout, now six-for-10 this year, took a sub-1:50 mark in Lexington this summer before going through the Standardbred Horse Sales Company Annual Sale. The win was his eighth in 17 career starts and pushed his bankroll to $61,595. He is owned by 1876472 Ontario Inc., Ecurie Csl, Sam Sergi and Michael Sergi.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.