The first stakes events of the season were contested Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, as Ontario Sired three-year-old fillies were in the spotlight.
A total of five $25,000 eliminations for the SBOA Stakes were conducted on an 11-race card. A group of 23 pacing fillies were split into three divisions, while 22 trotting fillies battled in a pair of divisions.
The pacing side saw Sunny Dee lead the way by keeping her perfect record intact with a 1:52.3 score. The Sunshine Beach filly got her cue from driver Trevor Henry to rush to the top from fourth in the second quarter and never looked back.
Sunny Dee led by three-quarters in 1:25.1 held a pair of challengers at bay in the lane to win by three-quarter lengths. Better Single finished second, while Summer Charm was third and Village Joules was fourth.
Now undefeated in six starts, Sunny Dee has amassed $53,000 in earnings for owners Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. She paid $2.70 to win.
Thats Incredible joined her McIntosh teammate Sunny Dee in the winner’s circle by also taking an elimination Saturday.
Driven by Trevor Henry, Thats Incredible sat in third entering the far turn when she got tied up for a moment with outside challenger Deb. Despite the contact, the McIntosh trainee unleashed a strong :27.1 final quarter to shoot by rivals in the final eighth for a career-best 1:53 score. Disturbed Hanover finished second by one-and-three-quarter lengths. Ideation Hanover was third while Deb finished fourth.
A daughter of Bettors Delight, Thats Incredible picked up her second win in three starts this season and fifth overall. She now has $69,488 earned for owners Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, C S X Stables and Dave Boyle. She paid $17.40 to win.
Pocono-invader Girls Got Rhythm powered by rivals for a career-best 1:52.3 victory in the opening elimination for pacers. Doug McNair placed the Nicholas Devita trainee in a second-over spot turning for home and the daughter of Sportswriter delivered a :27.1 kicker to win by three-quarters of a length. Betcha Baby finished second, while Freya Seelster was third and Jessicas Legacy fourth.
Girls Got Rhythm was sent as the favourite and returned $4.60 for a $2 win ticket. She now has four wins in five starts and has earned $37,100 for owner John Cummins.
On the trotting side, Haveoneforme started in the second-tier and found the finish line first for driver Paul MacDonell. The Richard "Nifty" Norman trainee moved from fourth to first in the second-quarter and pulled away in the lane to win by four lengths in 1:56.2. Royal Rhythm finished second, while Madam Shazam was third. The top-five was rounded out by Mattys Smilin and Northern Royale.
A daughter of Kadabra, Haveoneforme was unraced as a two-year-old and has now won four of six starts. Her earnings moved to $36,597 for owners Enzed Racing Stable Inc, Mel Hartman and Little E LLC. She paid $3.80 to win.
John Bax-trainee Bright Eyes M improved to two for two on the season with a career-best 1:56.2 score in the second elimination. Steve Byron gave the Kadabra filly a two-hole trip, which she capitalized on by trotting home in :27.3 to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Teddys Littleangel cut the mile and finished second. Mercedes Talma, Warrawee Ultra and Presto Change O completed the top-five.
Owned by Menhammar Stuteri Ab, Bright Eyes M is now two for five in her career and has earned $23,312. She paid $15.10 to win.
Post position draws for each SBOA final took place following Saturday evening’s eliminations. The top-three finishers from the pacing eliminations advanced to the final, plus Village Joules, who advanced from a draw of the fourth-place finishers. The top-five finishers from the trot eliminations advanced to the final. All eliminations winners were able to select their post.
The trot final will go for a purse of $164,290 while the pace final will battle for a purse of $165,290.
The SBOA Stakes finals will highlight next Saturday’s Fireworks and Family Fun Night card at Mohawk Park. Post time has been pushed up to 6:45 p.m.
The post positions for each final are listed below.
$164,290 SBOA Trot
1. Royal Rhythm
2. Haveoneforme
3. Bright Eyes M
4. Mercedes Talma
5. Warrawee Ultra
6. Mattys Smilin
7. Presto Change O
8. Northern Royale
9. Madam Shazam
10. Teddys Littleangel
AE: Blue Magic
$165,290 SBOA Pace
1. Village Joules
2. Sunny Dee
3. Thats Incredible
4. Girls Got Rhythm
5. Better Single
6. Summer Charm
7. Freya Seelster
8. Ideation Hanover
9. Betcha Baby
10. Disturbed Hanover
AE: Jessicas Legacy
(with files from Woodbine Mohawk Park)
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.