Babies were on display three times during Thursday’s 10-race card at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and the rookies were on their toes in their respective events.
White Tiger was a popular winner in a $14,000 tilt for trotters, winning in 1:58.4 for trainer Harry Poulton and driver Anthony MacDonald.
The son of Muscle Massive-Just Not Into You, who was sent off as the 1-2 favourite, got away fourth and held that position while Silver and Splurge On Me took turns on the early lead through panels of :30.1 and 1:00.3. MacDonald got his charge into gear in the backstretch, and the quickly swept to the front and proceeded to wheel the field past the three-quarter pole in 1:29.3.
White Tiger then used a :29.1 closing frame to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Silver in 1:58.4. Splurge On Me nabbed the show dough in the seven-horse affair.
Thestable White Tiger GRP of Guelph, Ont. owns the colt who was a $22,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Bestseller Hanover made a down payment on her $130,000 purchase price from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale thanks to her dazzling display of speed and ability in a $14,000 overnight event for pacing fillies.
Sylvain Filion hustled the Eric Adams trainee to the lead from Post 5 and together they led the field through early fractions of :28.2, :57.1 and 1:26. The filly went into sprint mode over the final two furlongs and used her :27.1 closing kick to win by 7-3/4 lengths over Undefiable in 1:53.1. Revival Cards took home third prize.
Millar Farms of Stouffville, Ont. owns the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Bittersweet Terror who is a half-sister to Chip Walther (1:50.3 - $291,856) and a full-sister to JK Wildfire (1:52.3 - $53,940).
Café Society overcame a tough post and a challenging trip to win her $14,000 assignment for the tandem of driver Jonathan Drury and trainer Casie Coleman.
The daughter of Betterthancheddar-Bunkhouse Babe took an early tuck into the six-hole while Green Point shot to the top and had the field chasing her past the first quarter in :28.1. Race favourite Shesonehotwriter then brushed to the lead in the backstretch, and she led by the next two intervals of :57.2 and 1:26.4. Drury edged off the rail in the backstretch, and he had Café Society grinding away from first-over as the field raced to the head of the stretch.
A closing panel clocked in :27 was more than enough for Café Society to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Shesonehotwriter in 1:54.2. Clearly Better rallied well to pick up the show dough in the nine-horse affair.
West Wins Stable, Kevin McKinlay and Jim Fielding own the talented lass who was a $42,000 purchase from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale. Café Society is a half-sister to Vintage Babe (1:52.2 - $215,560).
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.