The 11-race program at Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday evening featured a pair of terrific trotting tilts, one for the boys and one for the ladies
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Yursa Hanover played the role of the spoiler in the $22,000 Fillies & Mares Trot for driver Mario Baillargeon and trainer Ben Baillargeon. Her 7-1 upset in 1:52.3 earned her the distinction of being the fastest older trotting mare in North America this season on a seven-eighths mile oval.
All eyes were on the 1-2 favourite Windsong Soprano, who was looking for her fifth consecutive victory for the tandem of driver Steve Condren and trainer Bob McIntosh. She got away third while Yursa Hanover and Baillargeon motored to the top and laid down an opening quarter in :27.1.
As soon as the field hit the backstretch, Condren hit the throttle with Windsong Soprano. She charge to the lead and appeared to be well within herself past the half in :56 an then three-quarters in 1:24. Halfway down the lane she drifted off the rail and when put to pressure she made an uncharacteristic break. Her misfortune was the good fortune of Yursa Hanover, who shot up the rail to stake claim to the win over Friendly Amigo and Kandor Hanover.
It was the first win of the season for the four-year-old Windsongs Legacy miss, who is owned by Richard Berthiaume of Point-Aux-Trembles, QC. The mare, who is now a 10-time winner, pushed her lifetime earnings to $762,404 with the win.
Not even a first-over trip and a slow tempo in the opening half of the mile could derail San Pail from keeping his winning streak alive in the $42,000 Open Trot. The six-year-old son of San Pellegrino laid off Before He Cheats’ early fractions of :27.2 and :57 before tackling that foe on the way to the final turn.
Before He Cheats was still in command at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1, but when Randy Waples called on Sail Pail at the head of the lane the gelding took off and used a :28.1 final frame to post the 1-1/4 length score over a hard-closing Armbro Chronicle in 1:53.3. Third prize went to Sand Wyndham.
Rod Hughes of Dunsford shares ownership on San Pail, who won for the fifth consecutive start, with Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, ON. It was the trotter’s sixth win of the season in seven tries, and the lion’s share of the purse boosted his overall earnings to $1,194,465.
To view Tuesday’s results, click here.