American Ticket rode the pocket to victory in the first pari-mutuel contest for two-year-olds this year at Woodbine Mohawk Park, posting a 1:54.3 winning time in her $15,000 event for rookie pacers on Thursday night (June 24).
Driver Phil Hudon gave American Ticket, one of two Blake MacIntosh trainees to compete in the evening's second race, a pocket trip behind stablemate Better Double Flip (James MacDonald) through early sectionals of :29.3, :59.3 and 1:27.1 before edging off the pegs at the top of the stretch. The daughter of American Ideal and Free Ticket faced a bit of resistance from Better Double Flip in mid-stretch before edging away to a 1-1/4-length win — and a 19-1 upset — in the final yards. Stonebridge Thalia (Travis Cullen) lifted mildly up the pegs for third.
American Ticket, a $37,000 Lexington Select purchase last October, campaigns for the Hutt Racing Stable, Blake and Ozzie Stables, Mortgage Boys Stable and Robert MacNeil.
One race later, World At War Deo and Jody Jamieson took the first two-year-old trot of the season, making two moves to overcome post nine and secure the early lead before accelerating away from their nine rivals in upper stretch en route to a measured 1:57.1 score over the late-rallying Grace (MacDonald) and Southwind Domino (Doug McNair). David Menary trains the son of Chapter Seven and Yalta Hanover whom Steve Heimbecker, Blue Chip Bloodstock, Michael Guerriero and Menary Racing Inc. purchased for $70,000 at last October's Lexington Select Yearling Sale.
To view Thursday's complete results, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.