A set of eliminations for this year’s Town Pro Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies went postward on Tuesday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, and favourites delivered in each of the $20,000 tilts
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The public sent Swinging Beauty off as the 1-5 choice in the first elimination, and she came through for Team McNair in a career-best clocking of 1:52.3. Doug McNair got away third with the daughter of Art Major-Stunning Beauty while From The Start took the field of six past the quarter pole in a :27-second clip. McNair tipped his charge off the rail in the backstretch, and shortly past the mid-way point in a :55-second clip he was released to the position of command.
Swinging Beauty sped past the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 and then used a :28.4 final quarter to stave off a pylon-skimming From The Start by a half-length margin. Artic Byrd, Artsy Princess and Kissngrin took home the final cheques and spots in next week’s final.
“I didn’t really want to cut it with her, but we got away fourth, kind of where we wanted,” he said. “I was going to wait as long as I could and then Jody (driver of Taxi Fare Hanover) run and that kind of changed my plan so I removed her and Scotty (driver of From The Start) stung me pretty good in a half in :55, but she did what she had to do and won.”
Gregg McNair trains Swinging Beauty for William Switala and James Martin of Clarence Centre, NY. It was her first win of the season in six attempts and the second victory of her career. She has stashed away $168,236 to date.
Jody Jamieson employed similar tactics with Rockratese in the second elimination, and she came through as the 1-5 favourite in a career-best clocking of 1:52.1. The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Merculese got away third from her post seven starting spot while P L Emily zipped to the front and threw down an opening panel clocked in :27.4. Jamieson had Rockratese out and rolling in the backstretch, and she parked past the half in :56.1 before marching to the top.
Once in charge of the tempo, Rockratese led the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 before using a :28.2 final frame to score by a pair of lengths over Rock For Glory, with Mistys Art, P L Emily and Done Fooln Witcha earnings prizes and gaining berths to next week’s final.
“She was a little rough at the head of the stretch, kind of gave me a little bit of a surprise there,” he said. “I thought it was going to be a little easier. She put a couple of steps in there and I nearly lost her, but she stayed at it and dug in, to the wire. Once we hit the stretch and she put her head down and started pacing, I knew no one was going to get me."
Tim Pinske trains the talented lass for Pinske Stables of Plato, MN. She went 1-for-10 as a rookie, but now boasts a 2-2-1 record in six starts this season. She has banked $57,580 in her career.
The top five finishers from each of Monday’s eliminations advance to next Monday’s final, and here’s how they’ll line up behind the starting gate:
$60,000 Town Pro Stakes
1. Done Fooln Witcha
2. Swinging Beauty
3. Rockratese
4. P L Emily
5. Mistys Art
6. From The Start
7. Rock For Glory
8. Kissngrin
9. Artic Byrd
10. Artsy Princess
(With quotes from WEG)
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.