The first leg of the Girls’ Night Out Pacing Series began on Friday evening featuring a trio of $18,000 divisions with winners Smartygirl, Mia Seelster and Ferrari Sena all earning new lifetime marks.
In the first division, Smartygirl and Doug McNair got under the wire first in 1:52.1, returning $32.90 to win.
The daughter of Camluck used first-over tactics through panels of :27, :56.3 and 1:25 before clearing to the front and opening up on her eight rivals to score the six length win. Boathouse Row (Billy Davis Jr.) finished second with Smashbox (Jody Jamieson) third.
Trained by Ron Adams for Dr. David Fisher, Smartygirl now has a 5-4-5 record from 25 starts this season along with $99,825 in earnings.
Mario Baillargeon used second-over tactics as he guided second choice Mia Seelster to 1:51 victory in the second division.
Baillargeon came from off-the-pace with the daughter of Camluck through panels of :26.2, :54.1 and 1:23 before showing his charge open road down the stretch en route to a comfortable four and a half length win. Back Yard Baby (Randy Waples) finished second with Trama Unit (Billy Davis Jr.) third.
Trained and co-owned by David Keyes along with Norman Keyes, Mia Seelster increased her lifetime earning to $132,082. The four-year-old has a record of 2-1-2 from 17 starts this season. She paid $9.30 to win.
In the final division, post time favourite Ferrari Sena and Sylvain Filion went gate-to-wire in 1:50.4.
Filion guided the daughter of Bolero Master through panels of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:23.4 before dashing away from her rivals in deep stretch to earn her 18th career tally. Hat Trick Honey (Jody Jamieson) finished one length behind in second with Jonsie Jones (Scott Zeron) third.
Richard Moreau, who won three races with Filion on Friday at Mohawk, trains the five-year-old miss for owner Serge Nadeau. The bay has a 3-4-2 record from nine starts this season and $102,311 earned lifetime.
The second $18,000 second leg takes place on Friday, August 2 with the $40,000 (estimated) final on Friday, August 9.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)