It was all about the fillies on Thursday evening at Mohawk Racetrack as pacing sophomores battled in the $60,000 final of the Town Pro Pacing Series and rookie square-gaiters sparred in the second leg of the In Free Trotting Series.
Unred Hanover completed the sweep of the Town Pro Pacing Series thanks to her 1:51 score in the $60,000 final for the team of Paul MacDonell and trainer Travis Umphrey. MacDonell got away second with the even-money favourite while Persistent motored to the lead and threw down an opening quarter in :26.4. Unred Hanover sprinted to the top in the backstretch, and after hanging up middle splits of :55.2 and 1:23.3 she used a :27.2 kicker to get the job done over the pocket-sitting Persistent. Mileys Big World, who was perfect in the preliminary legs of the series, was third.
“There were two or three horses in there that could give me a run for my money,” Paul MacDonell said following the win. “Obviously, Persistent, Mileys Big World and Docs Hope, as well. There were three or four substantial fillies that could give you a run on any given night.
“I thought it was a good idea to control [the pace] from the half on,” he added. “Scott [Zeron] got his horse out of there real fast and he covered me up for the first quarter of the mile and it worked out in our favour.”
Umphrey shares ownership on the daughter of Western Ideal-Up Front Red with Terry Hamilton and Shir Win Racing Stable of Alberta. Unraced as a rookie, Unred Hanover has assembled a 6-3-0 record in her first nine starts while banking $98,000 in the process.
Wind Stroll, a heavily-favoured first-time starter, captured the first division of the In Free Trotting Series in 1:59.2 for the tandem of driver James MacDonald and trainer Johnny MacKinnon. The daughter of Muscle Mass-Southern Senorita, who was treated to a two-hole trip, tracked tempo-setter Antsy Dancey through fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:30.2 before that front-stepping foe came off the rail. Wind Stroll shot through the opening and surged through for the win. Ocean Mist Beauty was next best, with Antsy Dancey settling for third prize.
Tony Holmes and Walter Zent of Lexington, KY bred and own the rookie, who is a half-sister to the Champlain Stakes-winning Guccio (Q1:54.2 - $152,285).
Lady Laker is still undefeated thanks to her come-from-behind score in the second division for driver Trevor Ritchie and trainer Allen Tomlinson. The filly, who was sent off as the 1-5 choice, got away fourth while Standing My Ground shot to the top and laid down fractions of :28, :58 and 1:28.3. Ritchie advanced gained the two-hole in the backstretch with Lady Laker, and she enjoyed cover behind the leader all the way to the head of the lane before popping back out and using a :28.3 closing panel to win by three-quarters of a length over Standing My Ground in 1:57.2. Bostonz Credit kicked on gamely to be a lapped-on third.
David Vanderhyde bred and owns the daughter of Lockkeeper-Hyercast. She’s managed to stash away $26,850 to date.
The $50,000 final of the In Free Trotting Series will take place on Monday, August 6.
(Quotes from WEG)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.