While the 1:50 barrier hasn't been cracked just yet, three horses have come awfully close with Dinner At The Met the latest to the match the Canadian season's record on Saturday night (April 15) at Mohawk Racetrack.
Dinner At The Met equalled the fastest winning mile this year on Canadian soil with his 1:50 score in the ninth race, an $18,000 conditioned/optional claiming pace. American Virgin (March 25) and Champagne Phil (April 8) have also won in 1:50 flat in recent weeks.
Driven by Jonathan Drury, race favourite Dinner At The Met got away fifth from the inside post while a trio of horses fired off the gate producing a quick opening quarter of :26.2 with Mach Pride (Anthony MacDonald) eventually securing the lead. Dinner At The Met then launched out to challenge on the way to the :55 midway mark and he took over in the final turn with Velocity Driven (James MacDonald) hot on his heels and pressuring past three-quarters in 1:22.1. However, Dinner At The Met dug in down the lane and drew three lengths clear in the final sixteenth of the mile to win in a career-best clocking of 1:50 flat, with his final quarter clocked in :27.4. Velocity Driven held second while Dialamara (Louis-Philippe Roy) closed late for third.
Dinner At The Met was trained by Corey Johnson for the West Wins Stable, but was claimed from Saturday's race for $30,000 by Travis Cullen. The popular pacer has now been claimed five times this year for a total value of $105,000.
The six-year-old Metropolitan-Grabbersome gelding has put together a 3-2-3 scorecard from 11 outings this year while banking $33,180. Lifetime, he has won 26 times and boasts purse earnings of $273,592.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.