Ideal Race Delivers In Mohawk Preferred

Amidst the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes action and upsets at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night, 9-5 favourite Ideal Race put forth a 1:49.3 career-best performance, rallying from last to first to deliver on his pari-mutuel promise in the $35,000 Preferred Pace

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Major Hottie (Chris Christoforou) took control of the field during a speedy :26.4 opening quarter, but the parked out Fire On The Water (Tim Tetrick) took over command as they entered the backstretch. Refusing to sit a pocket trip, Major Hottie moved back out, beating third place Rave On (Scott Zeron) off the pylons.

Major Hottie re-took the lead at the :54.3 half-mile mark, but was forced back into the pocket spot when Rave On cleared and took the field to three-quarters in 1:22.1.

Meanwhile, Mach Dreamer (Rick Zeron) moved underway with last week's winner Fitzs Z Tam (Luc Ouellette) and the trailing Ideal Race and driver Jody Jamieson following.

Mach Dreamer took over down the stretch, but Ideal Race came flying wide to score the three-quarter length victory in 1:49.3, with his final quarter clocked in :26.1. Fits Z Tam got up for second ahead of Mach Dreamer.

Ideal Race paid $5.90 to win. The five-year-old Western Terror-Eidette Hanover gelding recorded his third win of the season in 14 starts and boosted his bankroll to $91,220 for 2011 and $476,783 lifetime. Jeff Gillis trains and co-owns the 15-time career winner with Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont.

Jamieson also won the first of three $100,000 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes divisions aboard Up The Credit, trained by his father Carl. For a full recap of the stakes action, click here.

For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.