One favourite fell short while another pulled away to an easy score in Saturday’s Preferred events at Mohawk Racetrack.
Last week’s winner in the $34,000 Preferred, Mcwicked, was hammered down to be the favourite at odds of 1-9 in Saturday’s edition of the class, but it was Nirvana Seelster who turned in a brilliant performance en route to winning for driver Rick Zeron and trainer Bill Budd.
Zeron pushed the pedal down with Nirvana Seelster, and the six-year-old son of Camluck-No Strikes Against responded by carving out panels of :26, :53 and 1:20. His closing quarter of :28.1 was enough to earn him the win by 1-1/4 lengths over Mcwicked in 1:48.1. Fool Me Once took home the show dough in the six-horse affair.
Bruce Davy of Brockville, Ont. owns the gelding who won for the 31st time in his career. The winner of $688,506 has racked up an impressive record of 8-3-3 from 21 trips to the track this season.
Flanagan Memory prevailed in the $34,000 Preferred Trot, and that was music to the ears of the favourite players that cashed in on the 3-5 choice.
Charmed Life was the quickest trotter in the early going, and her snap speed had her leading through first-half fractions of :26.4 and :55.4. Flanagan Memory and Phil Hudon were on the move going to the half, and in a matter of strides the O.S.S. graduate rushed to the lead. His :28.2 closing speed helped propel him to the win by 3-1/4 lengths over Charmed Life in 1:52.2. Catch The Dream tagged along to take home a third-place cheque.
Trainer Rene Dion of Rockwood, Ont. owns the homebred with Liette Flanagan. The partners watched the talented trotter break into the win column for the first time this year. The 20-time winner has racked up more than $1.6 million to date.
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.