Drop The Ball, driven by Doug McNair, lowered the Mohawk Racetrack record for older pacing mares when she got under the wire first in 1:49 in her Roses Are Red Stakes elimination on Saturday night.
The four-year-old daughter of Western Terror took over the lead past the opening station in :27, set by Rocklamation (Jody Jamieson). McNair then angled the 13-time winner to the outside and overtook command and never looked as she marched past the half in :54.1 and three-quarters in 1:21.4, before edging away from her rivals to win by half a length. Rocklamation (Jody Jamieson) finished second, over Western Silk (Scott Zeron).
“I left with her and found a spot quite easily,” McNair said. “As soon as we straightened up, I moved her to the front because I knew she was one of the better mares in the race. Turning for home, I was pretty confident in her, again it’s a horse race and anything can happen, but she hit a whole new gear. She was really impressive tonight.”
Trained by Tony O’Sullivan for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc., Dana Parham and Robert Cooper Stables LLC, Drop The Ball increased her lifetime earnings to $682,663. She paid $3.60 to win as the favourite.
In the second and final elimination, double-millionaire Put On A Show and Jody Jamieson came from off-the-pace to score in 1:50.4.
Anndrovette (Luc Ouellette) took over command past the opening station in :27.2. From there, the bay marched past the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:23.4. Turning for home, Anndrovette was still in command, but Put On A Show, who was sitting fourth-over, was shown open racetrack by Jamieson and she exploded in deep stretch to notch her 26th career victory. Anndrovette stayed for second with Radar Contact (Jack Moiseyev) completing the triactor after pressuring first over.
“Luc was stealing the race up front with the fractions he was getting and I never thought I’d be sitting fourth-over, that far back turning for home, but she’s such an amazing animal,” Jamieson said following the win. "When I tipped her down the stretch, within about three strides I knew I had a big shot to win the race. Her manners are simply impeccable; she’s two fingers to drive and is such a professional.”
Chris Ryder trains the winner of $2,141,963 for owners Craig Henderson and Richard and Joanne Young. She paid $3.30 to win as the favourite.
The $391,000 final will line up with the following post positions assigned:
1. Royal Cee Cee N
2. Put On A Show
3. Drop The Ball
4. Rocklamation
5. Monkey On My Wheel
6. Anndrovette
7. Radar Contact
8. Western Silk
9.Rebeka Bayama
10. Camille
With 10 horses entering for the $750,000 Maple Leaf Trot, set for July 21 at Mohawk Racetrack, no eliminations were required for the prestigious event. The draw took place on Saturday evening with the following post positions assigned:
1. Hot Shot Blue Chip
2. Daylon Magician
3. Winning Mister
4. Chapter Seven
5. Windsong Geant
6. Star Ruffnready
7. Blue Porsche
8. Mister Herbie
9. Arch Madness
10. Tall Cotton
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)