Brushstrokes will look to put her best foot forward when she lines up behind the gate in the second $36,000 leg of the Girls' Night Out Pacing Series on Friday at Mohawk Racetrack.
Anthony Haughan and his partner, Meg Crone, condition the six-year-old Real Artist mare, who has has four wins this season.
Following a disappointing eighth-place finish in the opening leg of the series, Brushstrokes will look for a rebound effort.
“She hasn’t been racing at her best lately,” Haughan said. “She’s been sick and off her game. We’re doing everything we can to have her sharp for Friday. Hopefully her luck will turn around.”
The pacing mare, who has banked $214,549 in her career, will begin from post three in the second of two $18,000 divisions with James MacDonald listed to drive.
“She’s such an easy mare to drive,” said the Cambridge, Ont. resident. “She’s very versatile and has a terrific closing kick. When she won three starts ago in [1]:51.3, I thought she’d be a nice fit for this series.”
Crone and Haughan purchased the 21-time winner privately from previous conditioner Tony Montini last fall.
“We watched her race quite a bit and liked what we saw," said Haughan. "She’s a nice, big, strong mare and has some pedigree. That also attracted us to her."
Brushstrokes has been a model of consistency over the past couple of seasons. Last year she raced 39 times and has already added another 22 trips behind the starting gate this season.
“That’s the best thing about her, you know what you’re getting,” said Haughan, a native of Ireland. “She’s a sound mare that can race anywhere. That makes our job that much easier.”
The Girls' Night Out Pacing Series is for aged pacing mares, who are non-winners of $30,000 in 2013 as of June 30, 2013. Winners over $100,000 in 2012 are not eligible.
The $40,000 (estimated) final on takes place on Friday, August 9.
The fields for the second leg of the series will line up as follows:
Race 6
1. Back Yard Baby
2. Insincerity
3. Mia Seelster
4. Misty Moonstone
5. Cams Van Go
6. Hat Trick Honey
7. St Lads Peeper
8. Jonsie Jones
9. Lady Latte
10. Trama Unit
Race 8
1. Boat House Row
2. Smashbox
3. Brushstrokes
4. Shadys M Three
5. Smartygirl
6. Cndiana Jones
7. Outer Drive Girl
8. Precious Cammill
9. Cards That Count
10. Lets Go Get Em
11. Ferrari Sena
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Friday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)