Ultra Myles was ultra impressive on Monday, Dec. 22 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, delivering a 17-1 stunner in a career-best effort with Louis-Philippe Roy aboard in the $22,000 co-feature on the 12-race program.
A field of eight trotters went postward who were non winners of three or $85,500 lifetime while four-year-olds and younger who were in for a $60,000 tag were also eligible.
Leaving from post seven, Roy rocketed off the wings with Ultra Myles, who cleared to the top on the first turn, blitzing through the snowflakes to cut the quarter in a brisk :27.1. Sunday Shoes (Billy Davis Jr.) moved around Ultra Myles on the backstretch, taking control of the field at the half in :56.4. Wildturkey Hanover (Phil Hudon) applied pressure to the leader first-over while Ultra Myles gapped slightly from the pocket on the turn at three-quarters in 1:25.1.
Straightening away for home, Ultra Myles began to reel in Sunday Shoes from the pocket while 4-5 favourite Chic Choc Rose (James MacDonald) tipped three-wide and into contention. Trotting home in :28.1, Ultra Myles powered to the lead in mid-stretch en route to a 2-1/4-length lead over Chic Choc Rose in 1:53.4. Wisdom Hanover (Travis Cullen) rallied from last in the stretch to get up for the show spot over a tiring Sunday Shoes.
One of two winners on the evening for trainer Shane Arsenault, Ultra Myles (pictured above) picked up his third victory in 23 outings this year. Arsenault, of Freelton, Ont., owns and bred the three-year-old Trixton-Warrawee Ultra gelding, who has banked $89,040 on the year. Ultra Myles returned $36.80 to win for his backers.
The finale featured the second division of the same condition with Manoah and Travis Henry leaving no doubt with a front-end romp.
Manoah made quick work of post eight in the field of nine, storming to the lead on the first turn through a :27.2 opening quarter. Tracked by Veracruz (Billy Davis Jr.) from the pocket, Manoah went unchallenged to the half in :56 before reaching three-quarters in 1:25. Getting stronger as the mile went on, Manoah opened in the lane, powering clear to win by an emphatic four lengths in 1:54.2. Veracruz held for second, with Pantofolaio (Tyler Borth) rallying for third.
Trained by Mark Etsell, Manoah has won two of his last three and four of 21 on the year. The three-year-old Greenshoe-Southwind Sauna colt is owned by Frank and Gennarino Lamacchia of St. George, Ont., and Tony Miceli and Deanmar Sons Stable of Mississauga, Ont., and sports seasonal earnings of $110,496. Manoah returned $7.20 to win at the betting windows.
Mohawk's Boxing Day matinee on Friday is now set to feature carryovers for both the early Pick 5 and Pick 6. There will be a special 1 p.m. post time for Friday’s card and race one will start the early Pick 5 with a carryover of $53,161. The carryover came into play after there were no winning tickets on the mid Pick 5 on Monday evening. The Pick 6 also had no winning tickets on Monday night. Friday’s Pick 6 starts in race four and will have a carryover of $7,022. Both the Pick 5 and Pick 6 have a 20-cent minimum and 15 per cent takeout.
Friday’s Boxing Day matinee has 11 races scheduled with a quartet of featured races, including the $33,000 Niagara Pacing Series final and $34,200 Valedictory Pacing Series final along with a pair of $40,000 Free-For-Alls for trotters and pacers.
The Saturday, Dec. 27 card will also be notable for horseplayers, as the 12-race program includes a mandatory payout for the Jackpot Hi-5. Monday night was the final chance to play the Jackpot Hi-5 ahead of the mandatory payout with multiple winning tickets. The carryover for Saturday’s Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payout is $199,031.68. The Hi-5 has a 20-cent minimum and 15 per cent takeout. The Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payout race is carded as race 12 with an overflow field of 12 to compete. Post time for Saturday’s card is 6:35 p.m.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada with files from Woodbine)