Boxing Day is known for great deals, and Woodbine Mohawk Park will offer its fans a ‘great deal’ by virtue of a set of series finals on its Boxing Day matinee program on Thursday, Dec. 26.
The finals of the Niagara Series for three-year-old pacing fillies and the Valedictory Series for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings figure to be exciting tilts again this season.
Trip Aces Hanover was a beaten favourite in last week’s opening leg of the series, but she bounced back and rallied for a 1:54.4 score for the team of driver Doug McNair and trainer Herb Holland.
The three-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Triplet Hanover got away fifth in the six-horse affair while Fear No Evil marched the lead and chopped out the opening quarter in :27.1. Race favourite Cranberry Brie popped the pocket in the backstretch and brushed to the front. She then sliced out middle fractions of :57 and 1:26.1, but she didn’t have the steam needed to go the distance. Trip Aces Hanover, who came first-over on the way to the half, swept home in :28.2 to win by a length over Giggle Hanover. The show dough went to Cranberry Brie.
The win improved her 2019 record to 3-4-7 from 22 tries, and the $8,500 payday boosted her overall cast stash to $60,220 for owner James Avritt Jr. of Lebanon, KY.
Arya Stark was a repeat winner in the series for trainer Melissa Lamoureux and reinsman Chris Christoforou.
The three-year-old daughter of Royal Mattjesty-Shes Game, who was sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, hustled to the lead and had the field chasing her past the opening quarter in :27.3. Race favourite Dreamfair Zenfire tipped from the pocket in the backstretch and motored to the lead in her quest to repeat in the series.
Dreamfair Zenfire cleared to the top and whacked out middle fractions of :57 and 1:26.2 before being confronted in the lane by Arya Stark. Christoforou angled his charge off the pylons and used a :27.1 closing panel to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Dreamfair Zenfire in 1:54. Passport Hanover took home third prize.
Trainer Lamoureux shares ownership on the seven-time winner with Jeff Boy and Jefferson Davis. Arya Stark pushed her lifetime earnings over $75,000 with the win.
Driver Jody Jamieson swept the second-leg divisions of the Valedictory Series thanks to impressive efforts from Lyons Pegasus and Captain Cash.
Lyons Pegasus let a late lead slip away en route to a second-place finish in the opening leg of the series, but a change of tactics helped him rally to a 1:52.2 triumph in his second-leg assignment.
The three-year-old son of Well Said-Clara got away third while Silver Beast and Mc Pat battled to the quarter pole in :26.3. Mc Pat worked his way to the lead in the backstretch and proceeded to wheel the field through fractions of :54.4 and 1:23.3. After being pressed by race favourite Windsun Ricky around the final turn, the leaders weakened and left it wide-open for the backfield. Lyons Pegasus weaved through traffic and kicked home in :28.2 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over JKNR Liketell. Third prize went to Legion Seelster.
Mark Goddard trains the gelding for Threelyonsracing of Brantford, Ont. It was the sixth win of the season from 14 tries for the career winner in excess of $60,000.
Captain Cash, sent off at odds of 8-1, turned a two-hole trip into a 1:52.4 triumph for Jamieson and trainer Bruce MacDonald.
The three-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Authorize battled with race favourite Virgin Storm to the opening quarter in :26.4 before the latter found the front. Virgin Storm stepped the field through middle panels of :56.3 and 1:25, but he came up empty turning for home. Captain Cash stick-handled through traffic in the lane and kicked home to win over Cheddar Bay and Conboyville.
Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont. owns the colt who now boasts a 4-3-1 record from 15 trips to the track this season. The five-time winner has banked more than $50,000 to date.
Each series will conclude on Woodbine Mohawk Park’s annual Boxing Day matinee program. Post time for that card is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.