The first leg of the Town Pro Pacing Series got underway on Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack, with two $18,000 divisions taking place.
In the first division, heavy favourite Major Dancer lived up to expectations with a two and three-quarter length victory in 1:53.
Driver Chris Christoforou dropped the Casie Coleman trainee in sixth early and got a second over trip on the back of Unique Rock N Roll (Doug McNair). At the top of the stretch, Christoforou brought her off that cover and never looked back with the daughter of Art Major-Two Steppin Sally. Major Dancer used a :26.3 last quarter to draw away from her competitors. In a tight four-horse photo for place, Poppies Pride (Randy Waples) and Sam (Roger Mayotte) finished in a dead-heat for second, while Polk Dot Hanover (Rick Zeron) was fourth.
Major Dancer paid $2.40 to win and picked up her fifth career victory for the Ontario ownership group of West Wins Stable, Mac Nichol and Adriano Sorella.
The second division saw another winner capitalize off a second over trip. Palm Beach Hanover and driver Rick Zeron pulled off a mild 7-1 upset in a career-best clocking of 1:52.4.
Dave Menary trainee Palm Beach Hanover followed Frame Worthy (Chris Christoforou) around the final turn and came off her cover to get by her challengers and score the victory by a length. Mystique Beachbum (Billy Davis Jr.) rallied to get up for second, while the 3-5 favourite, Happily Ever After (James MacDonald), held on for third after cutting the mile early.
The Somebeachsomewhere-Pilgrims Witchie filly returned $16.40 to win and secured the second victory of her career (second in three starts this season) for Ontario owners Menary, Bruce Norris and Hewvilla Farms.
The Town Pro Pacing Series, which is for three-year-old pacing fillies that are non-winners of $30,000 lifetime as of March 31, will resume next Friday night (June 27) for the second leg.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)