Three divisions of the Petticoat Series went postward in Monday’s third leg of the event, and Cousin Mary remained perfect in the preliminaries thanks to a hard-fought score for trainer Andrew Harris.
Cousin Mary, who won by more than five lengths in the first two legs of the series, survived a first-over journey in Monday’s and came away victorious in 1:54.1 for driver Jordan Stratton.
Sent off at odds of 3-5, the four-year-old daughter of Camluck-Chianti Seelster got away third before firing first-over on the way to the half. She battled hard with St Kitts, who tossed out panels of :27.2, :57 and 1:25.4. Cousin Mary used a :28.1 closing quarter to put away the leader, and she wound up edging away to win by three-quarters of a length over St Kitts. Feelin Red Hot was third.
Jeffrey Williamson of Blyth, Ont. owns the 10-time winner who improved this year’s record to 6-1-0 from eight trips postward. The lion’s share of the loot lifted her lifetime earnings to $92,724.
Reis Star Cross also used come-from-behind tactics to win her $20,000 division in 1:55.4 for driver Jim Marohn, Jr. The Rob Harmon trainee got up late to win by a neck over odds-on favourite Northern Soiree in 1:55.4. Taking home third prize was Real Diva.
Stephen Davis of Elora, Ont. owns the four-year-old daughter of Cheyenne Rei-Albercross. The victory was the second of the season for the career winner of $54,618.
A Crafty Lady went to the front and didn’t look back for driver Dan Dube en route to posting a facile win in the third division.
Dube hustled his charge to the top and together they successfully sliced out speed splits of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:27.1 before firing home in :28.1 to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Angels Rockn Pink in 1:55.2. Taking down the show dough was Pretty Real Desire.
Rene Allard trains the pacer, who was sent off as the 4-5 choice, for owner/breeder Robert Hamather of Exeter, Ont. The 10-time winner has banked in excess of $60,000 to date.