Westbeach didn’t get much pari-mutuel respect in her Friday evening assignment at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and apparently she took the snub personally.
With Sylvain Filion at the controls, Westbeach turned a two-hole trip into a 22-1 upset in the co-featured $20,000 conditioned event at the Campbellville oval.
Race favourite Major League led the group through fractions of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:25.3, but she couldn’t fend off pocket-sitting Westbeach who stormed home in :26.4 to win by a head over Swift Ally in 1:52.3. Major League N fell short by a half-length margin while finishing third.
Richard Moreau trains the five-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-I Will for Lachance Racing Stable of New Jersey and Dragon Racing Inc of Quebec. The victory was the eighth of her career and the $10,000 payday bumped her overall cash stash to $116,110.
Sheswildnfree brushed to the top in the backstretch in her $20,000 assignment later on the card, and it proved to be the winning move for the Ben Baillargeon trainee.
Northern Sultan took command early and had the field chasing him to the quarter pole in :28.1, but Sylvain Filion popped out of the three-hole with heavily favoured Sheswildnfree and together they motored to the lead well before the half. They sped past the midway point in :58.4 and then the three-quarter pole in 1:28.3 before scooting home in :27.4 to win comfortably over Princesspartypants and Meadowbranch Noble in 1:56.2.
The four-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass-Fiery Manes is now two-for-two to start the season for owners Tom and Elizabeth Rankin of St. Catharines, Ont. The homebred matched her lifetime mark while registering the fourth win of her career. She’s banked over $50,000 to date.
Somewhere North used the same approach to capture her $20,000 conditioned event in a sharp clocking of 1:53.3 for the tandem of driver Anthony Haughan and trainer Meg Crone.
The four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Northwest Hanover got away third before brushing to the lead in the backstretch. She then sped through middle splits of :57 and 1:26.3 before firing home in :27 to win by a length over Kounnis. Third prize went to Teatimepreacher GB.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Somewhere North extended her winning streak to two-in-a-row with the victory. She’s won six of eight races to kick off her career for owner/breeder Pinske Stables of Plato, MN. She’s banked just shy of $46,000 to date.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.