A quintet of Canadian Breeders Championship eliminations for the three-year-old pacers were contested Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
Lady Shadow turned in the performance of the evening with a sizzling 1:49.2 victory in the third and final $17,477 elimination for the pacing fillies.
The Gregg McNair trainee was sent hard to the front by driver Rick Zeron and never looked back. Off a three-quarter time of 1:22.1, Lady Shadow paced home in :27.1 for an eight and three-quarter length victory. The 1:49.2 clocking was a new lifetime best for the daughter of Shadow Play–Lady Camella and her third win in six starts this season. Nefertiti Bluechip finished in the place spot, while Justabit Mean was third.
The elimination victory boosts Lady Shadow's career earnings to over $320,000 for owners Lindsey and Connie Rankin. She paid $4.40 to win.
My Secret Belle and owner/trainer/driver Joe Hudon converted off a pocket trip to win the first elimination.
The daughter of Mach Three–Kindly Jenna grabbed the lead early and was able to take a seat in the two-hole when Brookedale Shadow cleared to the front as the field hit the backstretch. At the top of the lane, Hudon pulled the pocket and My Secret Belle paced by Brookedale Shadow for a two and three-quarter length victory in 1:51.1. Brookedale Shadow held on for second over Artful Impulse.
The win was the fifth in 17 starts this year for My Secret Belle and it pushes her career earnings to more than $110,000. She paid $3.80 to win.
In the second split, Sudoku and driver Jody Jamieson turned in a two and a half length victory in 1:51.1.
The daughter of Badlands Hanover–Mind Boggling was situated third over on the final turn and unleashed a :26.4 last quarter. Performing Art, who was second over in front of Sudoku, finished second, while Badlyinclined rallied for third. Brescia Seelster, who finished fourth, was the fourth place finisher drawn by lot to advance to the final.
The 1:51.1 clocking was a new lifetime best for Sudoku, who is now undefeated in two starts this season for trainer Tony O'Sullivan. The victory boosts her career earnings to over $225,000 for the ownership group of Let It Ride Stable Inc, Mentally Stable Inc., Dana Parham and Howard Taylor. Sudoku returned $3.70 to win.
The first $26,149 elimination for the colts and geldings went to 2013 Metro Pace winner Boomboom Ballykeel and driver Jonathan Drury in 1:50.3.
The son of Mach Three–Teig N Riley took the lead approaching the half and dug in through the stretch to hold off a late-charging Hunch Man by half a length. Victor Bayama finished third. Shadowbriand and Roger Mach Em finished fourth and fifth to secure the last two spots for next week's final.
The victory was the third in five starts this season for Boomboom Ballykeel and it equalled his career mark. He is trained by Richard Moreau for owners Ballykeel Racing Inc. Boomboom Ballykeel now has careers earning exceeding $478,000 and he paid $7.80 to win.
The second and final elimination went to the Dr. Ian Moore-trained Silverhill Shadow and driver Chris Christoforou.
The son of Shadow Play–Ruthie Jane made a brush to the lead down the backstretch and paced away from the field in the stretch to win by two and a half lengths in a lifetime-best of 1:50.2. Prince Clyde finished second, while Speckled Door was third. Lucky King and Titus Seelster clinched the last two spots in the final with fourth and fifth-place finishes.
The elimination victory was the second win in 10 starts this season for Silverhill Shadow and increased his career earnings to over $85,000 for owner Silverhill. Silverhill Shadow returned $4.30 to win.
In regular racing action, Piston Broke sprinted his final quarter in a wicked :25-seconds flat to circle a field of eight in the $34,000 Preferred Pace. He prevailed by half a length over favourite Ellis Park and Duc Dorleans in 1:48.3.
Zeron worked out the winning trip for trainer Rob Fellows, who also co-owns the five-year-old Shark Gesture-Rebid gelding with Willard Sabrosky and Arpad Szabo. Piston Broke paid $15.70 to win.
The race fractions were :26.3, :54.3 and 1:21.4, courtesy of fifth-place finisher Bestofbest Hanover.
Richard Berthiaume's millionairess Voelz Hanover and driver James MacDonald converted a pocket trip into a 1:50 triumph in the $30,000 Preferred for fillies and mares. She kicked home in :26.4 to defeat favourite American In Paris, who had posted fractions of :26.3, :55 and 1:23. D Gs Pesquero advanced first over for third.
The nine-year-old Astreos-Vassar Hanover mare paid $11.50 to win. She is trained by Corey Johnson.
The CBC finals for both pacing divisions will be held next Saturday night (July 19) at Mohawk as part of the Maple Leaf Trot card. For recaps and replays of last night's CBC trotting eliminations, click here.
Following the eliminations, the post positions for both finals were drawn in the paddock. Elimination winners were able to select their own post position. Here is how they will lineup for next week's finals.
$122,343 Filly Pace Final
1. Performing Art – Billy Davis Jr.
2. Sudoku – Jody Jamieson
3. My Secret Belle – Joe Hudon Jr.
4. Lady Shadow – Rick Zeron
5. Badlyinclined – Jack Moiseyev
6. Justabit Mean – Jonathan Drury
7. Brookedale Shadow – Chris Christoforou
8. Brescia Seelster – Sylvain Filion
9. Nefertiti Bluechip – Jody Jamieson
10. Artful Impulse – Steve Condren
AE1. Mea Lilley Mark – Mike Saftic
$122,028 Colt/Gelding Pace Final
1. Shadowbriand – Paul MacDonell
2. Speckled Door – Phil Hudon
3. Silverhill Shadow – Chris Christoforou
4. Boomboom Ballykeel – Jonathan Drury
5. Roger Mach Em – Jack Moiseyev
6. Lucky King – Billy Davis Jr.
7. Prince Clyde – James MacDonald
8. Hunch Man – Mike Saftic
9. Titus Seelster – Sylvain Filion
10. Victor Bayama – Sylvain Filion
AE1. High Flier – Billy Davis Jr.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)