The Whenuwishuponastar Series, which features juvenile pacing fillies, can also be referred to as the 'Robert McIntosh Series.'
Since it was renamed the Whenuwishuponastar series in 2002 (previously named Maiden Series), the Windsor conditioner has captured the event five times with Remember When (2002), Arts Risk (2004) and the past three consecutive years with You See L A (2009), Strike An Attitude (2010) and Shelliscape (2011).
Not to mention, McIntosh also trained Whenuwishuponastar, who retired with $578,752 in earnings and was voted Canada’s Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year in 1996.
On Thursday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, McIntosh will look to capture the $50,000 final again when he sends out Parlee Beach and Breathtakingbeauty.
Parlee Beach, a homebred daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Countryview Miss, captured the first leg of the series in 1:54.2, but did not participate in the second round.
“She came up a little bit sick,” McIntosh said. “It was nothing serious, but we had to address it. She trained well the other day and she’s ready to go.”
Randy Waples will steer the bay, who remains a perfect two-for-two to start her career with $19,000 in the bank.
“She was one of my top fillies training down all winter,” McIntosh said. “She didn’t do a thing wrong and she’s heavily staked, more than the other one (Breathtakingbeauty). She’s a serious filly.”
With a career-best clocking of 1:53.4, Parlee Beach will begin from Post 3 in Race 8 on Thursday evening for owner/breeder Pat Ryan of London, Ont.
Breathtakingbeauty, a homebred daughter of Ponder-Breathtacular, has posted two consecutive runner-up finishes to start her rookie campaign.
“She’s getting better with every start,” McIntosh said. “She’s been a bit of a surprise. I always thought she was a nice filly, but she’s turning out to be a little better than I thought.
“She likes the big track,” McIntosh continued. “I trained her all winter on my track, which is a half-mile, but the day I baby-raced her I was really impressed. Then in her first start, she came home in :26 and a piece and I was really happy with that effort.”
The bay filly has banked $12,500 and will begin from Post 4 for McIntosh, who co-owns and bred the pacing miss with CSX Stables of Ohio.
McIntosh, who has trained winners over $87 million, won’t overlook this year’s talented field.
“It’s a strong group of fillies,” he said. “Love Canal looks like a top, top filly, but a lot of it comes down to racing luck, especially with young horses.”
To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at Mohawk, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(WEG)