Safe Conduct charged up the inside to capture the $30,000 first leg of the New Holland Trotting Series on Monday, March 16 over a surface rated good at a snow-covered Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Racing into the wind, Safe Conduct struck first from post six for Bob McClure and led through a :28.1 first panel. Go Ahead Makemyday (Doug McNair) vaulted out of fourth down the backstretch and put his nose in front just past the half in :58, working past the pacesetter to clear to the lead as they entered the final turn.
The leader opened up approaching three-quarters in 1:26.1 but began to tire at the top of the lane, and the first-over Mr Bluebird (Travis Cullen) stormed to the top. Safe Conduct circled the previous leader, then went after Mr Bluebird down the stretch, powering up in the last eighth of a mile and drawing clear to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:54.3. Mr Bluebird held on for second over R Peaky Blinders (Tyler Borth).
Safe Conduct is now three-for-eight this season after winning two Mohawk Opens in February. Camilla Christoforou trains the gelding for Irvann Holdings Inc. of Toronto, Ont. and Charalambos Christoforou of Campbellville, Ont. The seven-year-old son of Archangel-Safekeeping is 14-for-63 lifetime and has earned $597,260. He paid $3 to win.
The New Holland Series is for non-winners of $150,000 (or $175,000 for fillies and mares) in 2025. There are two preliminary legs for each gait and two $60,000-added finals set for April 4.
A new Pop-Up Series for pacing fillies and mares in for a claiming price of $7,500 began on the card. First Filly Chip ($4.40) and Latte Seelster ($48.40) won the $8,500 first-leg divisions.
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)