Ontario-owned Mikayla Rose enjoyed a leisurely first half on top, then blazed home to capture her second straight division of the Red Star Hottie Pace at The Meadows
. Collage and Brookie B Quik also took $15,000 second leg splits Friday in the series for three-year-old filly pacers, which climaxes with next Friday’s final.
Mikayla Rose rushed to the lead for Tony Hall but threw on the brakes once she got there, getting the half in :58.2. She had plenty left to knife through the slop in a :56.3 back half en route to a six and three-quarter length victory in 1:55. Infrontigo Hanover and Wishfullartist completed the ticket.
Justin Lebo trains Mikayla Rose, a daughter of Ponder-Northern Rose and the only repeat winner in series eliminations, for John Glassford of Amherstburg and Gary Smith of Burlington, Ont. It was one of Hall’s six victories, including five in a row from Races 10 through 14 on the 15-race card.
Collage was the fastest divisional winner, converting a powerful first-over move to victory in a career-best 1:54.1. Elegant Desire was second, six and three-quarter lengths back, with Macapelo Rose third. Dave Palone drove the daughter of Real Desire-Newsletter for trainer Bill Fahy and owners Val D’Or Farms and Joe Holloway.
Brookie B Quik spotted the leader, Morwyn Hanover, eight and a half lengths before launching a determined uncovered bid that carried her to victory for Aaron Merriman in 1:57.2, a lifetime mark. Morwyn Hanover saved place, a neck in arrears, while Givemybest Hanover was third. Dana Mock trains Brookie B Quik, a daughter of Quik Pulse Mindale-Brookie B, and owns with Dan Mock and J.W. Miller.
In Friday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Pace, Jans Luck showed off her new, patient style as she came first over for Palone to triumph in 1:54.2, a neck ahead of Forever Ivy. Tremor Hanover rallied for show.
Ron Burke trains the seven-year-old daughter of Camluck-Jans Scooter, who now has won 38 races and over $875,000 in her career, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable.
(With files from The Meadows)