Pressuring pacesetter Twinkle late in the mile, Witch Dali hit the wire second as Twinkle lost stride at the wire and was placed the winner in the $40,000 Filly and Mare Preferred Pace on Saturday, June 16 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Yielding for the pocket to Sandbetweenurtoes through a :26.1 opening quarter, Twinkle took to the outside moving to the backstretch and reclaimed command moving to the half. Unchallenged through a :54.4 clip, Twinkle continued unpressured on the lead rounding the far turn while Witch Dali progressed first over.
Following three-quarters in 1:22.4, Twinkle turned into the stretch maintaining the lead over Witch Dali trying to get by in second while Sandbetweenurtoes angled to the center of the track in pursuit third. Twinkle, rough gaited at the wire, crossed the wire on a gallop and was disqualified to second, leaving Witch Dali the winner.
Winning her fourth race in 10 starts this season and her 27th in 94 overall, Witch Dali, a seven-year-old mare by Dali out of the Whitesand Gem mare Blissful Hall, has collected $560,168 for owner Brad Grant. Trained by Richard Moreau and driven by Doug McNair, she paid $5.90 to win.
The Fillies & Mares Preferred was part of a stakes-packed card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park on 2018 Pepsi North America Cup night. Check out the rest of the recaps in the 2018 North America Cup News Centre.