Sugar Dance returned to the scene of her Blizzard Series sweep and kept her undefeated record over Woodbine Mohawk Park in tact amid blistery winter conditions on Friday night (February 28).
Driver Jody Jamieson, who won early and often on Friday night (three of the first five races), steered Sugar Dance to victory in a $20,000 conditioned pace mid-card for her Michigan-based connections including trainer Edward Hennessey and owners Sandra Hennessey and Paula Sugars.
Sugar Dance, leaving from post nine, tucked in front of trailing tier starter Big Narancia (Bob McClure) near the back of the pack while a four-wide battled ensued on top into the first turn with Ally Elizabeth (Scott Young) hitting the quarter in :27. Back In The Game (Louis-Philippe Roy) was parked and pressing but unable to clear through a :55.2 half. Meanwhile, in the backfield, Sugar Dance slipped into the outer flow.
Back In The Game eventually threw in the towel approaching the 1:24.3 third quarter mark, prompting the second-over Morning Has Broken (Sylvain Filion) three-wide and the rest even wider turning for home.
The field spread across the track with Sugar Dance furthest out and closing six-deep. She circled her rivals and drew away down the lane with a :28.4 final frame, scoring by more than four lengths in 1:54.4 over the snow covered track rated two seconds slow. Shemars Lady Havoc (James MacDonald) rallied from the outer tier to secure the runner-up role with Big Narancia finishing back in third.
Sugar Dance, who swept the Blizzard Series in January, returned to Mohawk after a top three finish 10 days ago at Miami Valley Raceway. She was sent behind the starting gate as the popular pick and returned $3.40 to win at 3-5.
The Ohio-bred four-year-old daughter of Ghees House has won half of her 16 lifetime starts while banking $62,690 in purses.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.