Despite her outside post and long odds, Waasmula led every step of the way to post her first win of the season in the $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace featured on Mohawk Racetrack's Friday night card.
Waasmula held off the late-closing favourites, season-debuting O'Brien Award finalist American In Paris and Marlee B, to prevail by a head in 1:51.2 with Sylvain Filion catch-driving for trainer Bruce Goit and owner Brent Vincent of Allenford, Ont. The time was a new Canadian season's record for aged pacing mares.
Sent postward as the longest shot on the board at odds of 15-1 in her 10th race of the year, Waasmula paid $33 to win.
The homebred seven-year-old daughter of Million Dollar Cam, racing with the addition of Lasix, had crossed to command into the first turn of a sharp :26.4 opening quarter and fronted the field of six through middle splits of :55 and 1:22.3. Down the stretch, American In Paris rallied off the cover of Hope For Paddy for second while Marlee B closed from the backfield into the win photo. Hope For Paddy finished between horses just a half a length behind in fourth-place.
While Friday's win was Waasmula's first of the year, she had seven prior top three finishes. The lion's share of the purse pushed her seasonal earnings to $51,300 and lifetime bankroll to $618,160.
Four-year-old trotter Michaels Turn had his turn in the spotlight later on the card when he continued his undefeated win streak for trainer Colin Johnson and Toronto-based co-owner Thomas Kyron. Driven by Jonathan Drury, the son of Muscle Hill closed from the backfield to post his sixth consecutive victory in a new lifetime-best clocking of 1:55.1.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.