Aged and sophomore pacers stole the show at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night in the $60,000 Beat The Heat Series and Summertime finals
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Junior K scored his second victory of the season and defeated 11 rivals in the inaugural Beat The Heat Pacing Series.
The Robin Davies-trained Junior K and driver Roger Mayotte was first off the gate and led the field to a :26.3 opening quarter. As the pacers moved into the backstretch, The Ladies Man (Mike Saftic) was pulled from the pocket and taken to the front, cutting the half in :55 and the three-quarters in 1:22.1.
As they moved into the stretch, Mayotte pulled the 22-1 longshot from the pocket and re-claimed the lead in deep stretch, getting under the wire by a head in a career-best clocking of 1:50. The Ladies Man finished second and Shelbys Cobra (Paul MacDonell) was third.
Mayotte had confidence in his charge after the seven-year-old ridgling captured one of last Saturday’s divisions in the second leg of the series.
“He raced a big mile last week in the mud so I thought he would be a top contender in the final,” said the veteran driver following the victory.
Mayotte was pleased with Junior K’s effort and says one of the bay’s best qualities is his ability to get off the gate quickly.
“He’s has good gate speed,” said the Mississauga, Ont. resident. “I was happy to be crossed over before the turn, so it wasn’t as hard on him. He’s come back very sharp off the layoff, and I feel he’s probably as good as he’s ever been at seven-years-old.”
The son of Astreos-Winterwood Beauty, who has a lifetime record of 21-19-17 in 93 career outings, increased his bankroll to $397,071 for the Shady Hill Racing Stable of Durham, Ont.
Junior K paid $46.20 to win as the upsetter.
The Tony O’Sullivan-trained Fantaddy found his way to the winner’s circle for this fifth time this season after winning the Summertime Stakes final.
Pepsi North America Cup starter Rockabillie (Paul MacDonell) led the three-year-old pacers to the quarter pole in :26.4, but Odysseus Bluechip (Mario Baillargeon) launched a first-over attack from third and cleared the front after Rockabillie cut the half in :55.1.
Odysseus Bluechip held the lead to the three-quarters in 1:22.2. As the field moved into the turn, NA Cup starter Eighteen (Luc Ouellette) made a bid for the front from third and duelled with the leader, but in the stretch it was Fantaddy and driver Mike Saftic who rallied from fifth on the far outside.
Fantaddy got to the wire first in a new lifetime mark of 1:50, three-quarters of a length ahead of Odysseus Bluechip. Eighteen finished third.
“He is fairly one-dimensional and was a handful early on,” said O'Sullivan following the win. “We told him [driver Mike Saftic] to race him off-the-pace and that’s how we wanted to race him. Fantaddy didn't get the kind of trip we hoped for, but he overcame it.”
O’Sullivan knew his gelding had speed, but wasn’t sure he was going to win until the field was in deep stretch.
“At the three-quarter pole I was a little worried and at the seven-eighths pole I was pretty confident he was going to mow them down because he can just fly,” said the Cambridge, Ont. resident.
The son of Bettors Delight-Lifetime Member has a lifetime record of 6-3-1 in 15 starts, and the lion’s share of the purse increased his career earnings to $103,460 for owner John Fielding of Toronto, Ont.
Fantaddy paid $7.50 to win as the second choice.
In this week's $35,000 Preferred Pace, Fire On The Water converted from the pocket to score a 1:49.3 triumph in rein to Anthony MacDonald. The five-year-old son of Real Artist-Aquatic Yankee, trained by Steve Nichols for owner Anthony Nichols of Omemee, Ont., won by two and a half lengths over Upfront Hoosierboy (Mario Baillargeon) and favourite Major Hottie (Chris Christoforou). He paid $7.60 to win.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)