Safe Conduct split between horses in the stretch and rolled to victory in the $40,000 Open Trot on Sunday, Feb. 8 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Bob McClure commanded early speed from the gelding from post six, and Safe Conduct was on the engine at the entry to the first turn. He led through the quarter in :28 before Sid The Kid (Doug McNair), seeking an Open threepeat, elevated to the top en route to the half in :57.4. Mr Bluebird (Travis Cullen) vaulted out of fourth on the last turn, drew abreast of the leader at three-quarters in 1:27, and muscled to the lead at the top of the lane.
Safe Conduct was boxed in behind the top two as they straightened for home, but the retreat of Sid The Kid created an opening at the pylons, and Safe Conduct used that lane to sprint past Mr Bluebird and win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:54.4. Mr Bluebird finished second, followed by Usain Hanover (J.R. Plante).
Safe Conduct earned his first win of the year in his fourth start for trainer Camilla Christoforou and owners Irvann Holdings Inc. of Toronto, Ont. and Charalambos Christoforou of Campbellville, Ont. The seven-year-old son of Archangel-Safekeeping is now 12-for-59 lifetime and has earned $560,260. He returned $5 at the windows.
The three $12,000 Pop-Up Series second-leg winners on the card were Madam X ($3.70), Reign Supreme ($3) and Tactical Seelster ($9.20). The series is for pacers that started for a purse of $9,000 or less in their last three starts or were non-winners of $20,000 in a minimum of 10 starts last year. Winners over $50,000 in 2025 are ineligible.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)