World Away and Artists Rally posted mild upsets in Saturday’s second leg of The Diplomat Pacing Series for three-year-old colts and geldings at Mohawk Racetrack
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World Away used front end tactics to capture the first $25,000 split for driver Steve Condren. The pair blasted to command from Post 6 and led the field through fractions of :27, :56.1 and 1:24.4 before facing a mild challenge from favourite My Gift To You (Jody Jamieson).
In the stretch, the son of Western Terror - Worlds Sweetheart widened his advantage enough that pocket-sitting Fire On The Water (Paul MacDonell), who had prevailed in the opening leg, was able to come to the outside to challenge.
The wire came up just in time for World Away who held off Fire On The Water by a nose for the 1:53 tally. My Gift To You was able to salvage the show spot.
World Away, who is a half brother to world champion Mister Big, broke his maiden with the victory for trainer Carl Jamieson who co-owns along with Ken Henwood of Mississauga, Ont. The North America Cup eligible is rated at odds of 85-1 in Trot Magazine’s 2009 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book while Fire On The Water is ranked at 65-1.
In the second contest, Artists Rally posted an off-the-pace victory for driver Rick Zeron in 1:52.2.
The son of Real Artist - Spunky Gal got away fourth in the early going and watched as Star Party (Randy Waples), Chief Of The Beach (Jamieson) and Stinger Blue Chip (Mark MacDonald) exchanged the lead three times through an opening half in :56.3. It was Stinger Blue Chip who led the field past the third station in 1:23.4, but he could not dispose of the challengers in behind who were beginning to close the gap.
As the field turned for home, Chief Of The Beach popped out from the pocket and took a brief lead. However, he began to drift wide and a closing Artists Rally took advantage to score by a length with Chief Of The Beach, who is ranked at odds of 80-1 in Trot's Spring Book, holding second and Star Party holding the show spot.
It was the sixth win in 12 tries this season for Artists Rally who is trained by Jeff Gillis for owner Martin Scharf of Lawrence, New York. The lion’s share of the purse boosted his earnings to just over $125,000 lifetime.
The $78,000 final of The Diplomat Pacing Series will go postward next Saturday night from Woodbine.
In the weekly $40,000 Preferred Pace, Proven Lover reached up to score his first win in nine starts this year with Jamieson in the bike for trainer Tony O'Sullivan.
Bolero Charles (Chris Christoforou) charged up for the lead as the favoured Hyperion Hanover (Rick Zeron) filled the pocket position and Proven Lover slipped into third place. Bolero Charles reached the first quarter in :26.3 and the led the single file field to the half in :55 where Royal Becquet (Simon Allard) started the flow moving first-up.
As the field past three-quarters in 1:23.4 and turned for home, the backfield kicked into action. Our Lucky Killean (Waples) tipped off second-over cover and grabbed the lead but a strong stretch rush from Proven Lover equaled victory for the five-year-old son of Real Desire. He stopped the clock in 1:51.2 winning by a length. Hyperion Hanover picked up second with Our Lucky Killean rounding out the top three.
Proven Lover, a nine-time winner who has earned $239,742, is owned by John Fielding of Toronto, Ont. and Adam Victor And Son Stable of New York, New York.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.
(With files from WEG)