New Rules was victorious in the $69,000 New Holland Trotting Series final as live harness racing resumed at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, March 29 after a one-week hiatus, but inclement weather cut the action short.
Races seven through 14 were cancelled due to inclement weather causing poor visibility at the Campbellville, Ont. oval.
Before the conditions deteriorated, New Rules and driver Trevor Henry overhauled popular pacesetter Fashion Frenzie, who was perfect through the preliminary legs and set fractions of :27.4, :58 and 1:28 here over the 'good' going for Louis-Philippe Roy. Following back-to-back runner-up finishes in the series, New Rules prevailed this time out in 1:56.3 by a head as Locatelli (Phil Hudon) closed late for second. Fashion Frenzie settled for third in the short field of five with one early breaker.
New Rules is now a five-time winner and has finished no worse than second in his nine seasonal starts for trainer Dave Menary and owner Pollack Racing of Venetia, Pennsylvania. He tops all horses for earnings in Canada so far this year having amassed $133,500.
"Everything has just gone in the right direction. He's had a great winter and I've kind of pegged him as a winter horse," commented Menary after the race. "I think tonight the inclement weather kind of helped him out. He's just so reliable. Trevor did a great job, we got a great trip and we got lucky to win."
Menary said he'll be pointed to Preferred action at Mohawk going forward.
Lifetime, the five-year-old Lookslikeachpndale-Mini Her gelding has won 21 races from 65 starts and $422,362 in purses.
He returned $5.50 to win and $3.90 to place as the 8-5 second choice. There was no show wagering.
The New Holland Series was for non-winners of $150,000 (fillies & mares $175,000) in 2024.
The $69,000 New Holland Series final for pacers that was carded as the eighth race has been rescheduled for next Saturday, April 5 and will be raced as drawn.
A mandatory payout for the Jackpot Hi-5 that was planned for Saturday's last race will now be held at a later date with details to be announced by Mohawk next week.
Live harness racing is scheduled to resume at Mohawk on Monday, March 31 with post time at 6:35 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)