Though Wheels On Fire suffered narrow defeat at the finish of the $36,000 Preferred at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (July 25), the Richard Moreau trainee eventually ascended into the first-place slot.
Clearing control past a :27 first quarter, Wheels On Fire led pocket-sitter Matticulous GB through middle fractions of :55 and 1:23.3, with race-favourite Evenwood Sonofagun rolling first over into the final turn. Into the stretch Wheels On Fire maintained command while sitting firm at the pylons as Matticulous GB grew antsy for racing room, forcing his way out of the pocket while interfering with stablemate Evenwood Sonofagun. Within a sixteenth of a mile, Matticulous GB surged past Wheels On Fire to hit the finish of a 1:51 mile with a head in front.
Because of the infraction, the judges disqualified Matticulous GB to fifth, placed behind his stablemate Evenwood Sonofagun. Wheels On Fire moved up to first with Always A Hotshot taking second and Casimir Richie P moving into third.
A five-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere, Wheels On Fire won his sixth race from 12 starts this season and his 20th from 51 overall, earning $316,103. Doug McNair drove the $7.70 winner for owner Brad Grant.
So Much More capitalized off a ground-saving trip to down odds-on favourite Treacherous Reign and pull a 21-1 upset in the $32,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred.
Treacherous Reign set an uncontested pace, posting splits of :26.3, :55 and 1:22.2 with Sunny Dee drafting in the pocket and So Much More racing third. Sunny Dee popped pocket into the stretch to challenge Treacherous Reign but soon began to backtrack, leaving open road for So Much More to target the leader. Through the stretch Treacherous Reign’s lead diminished as So Much More reeled in the 2-5 choice at the pegs to hit the finish first by three-quarter lengths in 1:49.3. Sunny Dee held on for third.
Paying $44.10 to win, So Much More won her sixth race from 16 starts this season and her 25th from 50 overall, earning $373,570. Don Beatson trains and co-owns the four-year-old Big Jim mare with partners Kenneth Beatson and Cole England.
A pair of $104,800 divisions of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold for three-year-old pacing colts were also contested on the Saturday card. That recap is available here.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.