Next week’s final of the Town Pro Pacing Series is shaping up to be a good one, with two fillies in position for a series sweep.
Mileys Big World and driver Steve Condren, who romped to a 1:53.2 winner in last week’s opening leg, wanted no part of the early speed in the opening division but they had plenty to say in the late stages of the $30,000 contest.
Condren patiently watched Jason Brewer knife out wild panels of :26.4, :54.2 and 1:23.1 with race favourite Docs Hope, who was out of gas coming off the final turn. Condren, who latched onto cover with Mileys Big World in the back-half of the mile, pulled the trigger half-way down the lane and his filly accelerated to the lead and won by a neck over the pocket-sitting Persistent in 1:52.3. Rock Concert rallied late to finish third.
Trainer Murray Brethour of Sunderland co-owns the four-time winner with breeder Donald Varcoe of Stayner, ON. They’ve watched the filly put together a 4-3-1 record from 11 starts this season after going 0-for-5 last year. The $15,000 payday bumped her overall earnings to $69,990.
Unred Hanover stepped to a career-best clocking of 1:51.2 during last week’s opening round of the series, and she made a round trip to victory lane on Monday thanks to her front-stepping score in 1:52 for the tandem of driver Paul MacDonell and trainer Travis Umphrey.
MacDonell hustled Unred Hanover to the early lead, and after carving out panels of :27.3, :55.3 and 1:23.3 she used a :28.2 closing quarter to seal the deal by two lengths. Lil Miss Bourbon was second best, with third prize going to Taras Jet.
Umphrey shares ownership on the three-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Up Front Red with Terry Hamilton and Shir Win Racing Stable of Alberta. She has put together a 5-3-0 record in eight starts this season after going unraced as a rookie. The $15,000 payday lifted her lifetime earnings to $68,000.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.