Sixteen sophomore fillies sparred in the opening leg of the Town Pro Pacing Series at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday evening, with Unred Hanover and Mileys Big World capturing their respective $20,000 divisions.
Unred Hanover got away third for driver Paul MacDonell, who watched Albanian Era and Docs Hope battle to the quarter pole in :26.4 before the latter cleared to the position of command. Unred Hanover was on the move when the field hit the backstretch, and she cleared in a matter of strides. Hot on her heels, however, was face favourite Persistent. They exchanged punches past the mid-way point in :54.1 before Persistent muscled her way to the top.
She led the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:22.3, but she was under heavy pressure from Docs Hope who was back out and rolling. Docs Hope, who was running in badly, managed to clear Persistent in the lane but she couldn’t fend off Unred Hanover who used a :28.2 final quarter to win by three-quarters of a length over Docs Hope in a personal best clocking of 1:51.2. Persistent had to settle for third prize.
“The trip really worked out well for us,” said trainer Travis Umphrey. “We will see how she comes out of the race, but it’s a good start to the series anyways.
“She is a big, strong filly and she always seems to have that good last kick,” he added. “I think if you can save that and not use her hard early she seems a little stronger. She got used a little bit to the half, but I couldn’t be happier with the way she raced tonight.”
Umphrey co-owns the daughter of Western Ideal-Up Front Red with Terry Hamilton of Lethbridge and Shir Win Racing Stable of Edmonton, AB. She has put together a 4-3-0 record from seven starts this season after going unraced as a rookie. The $10,000 bumped her bank account to $53,000.
Mileys Big World survived a first-over journey to take home top prize in the second division, winning in a time of 1:53.3 for Hall of Famer Steve Condren who was celebrating his birthday. Condren got away sixth with the Murray Brethour pupil, while Spicy Celine Dijon led the field to the quarter in :27.1 before she suffered broken equipment and fled to the safety lane. Taras Jet inherited the lead at that point, but she was overtaken on the way to the half by longshot Pure Diamond.
That filly hit the half in :56 and proceeded to lead the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4. Condren was on the move at the mid-way point, and his charge was gaining quickly on Pure Diamond as the group arrived at the head of the lane. Mileys Big World sprinted home in :28.2 to overtake Pure Diamond and hold off the others. Hammers Princess came on strong to finish second, with Machnazetrois grabbing the show dough.
“I really wanted to get away in a position where I could get a second over [trip], but they just kept coming so I had to go early,” said Condren. “I just kind of rated her on the outside and when I asked her to go she went pretty good. She is much better off a helmet, but she raced good tonight.”
Murray Brethour co-owns the daughter of Cams Card Shark-Magnify This with the filly’s breeder, Donald Varcoe of Stayner, ON. It was her third win of the season in nine tries, and the $10,000 payday boosted her overall earnings to $54,990.
The $30,000 second leg of the Town Pro Series is scheduled for Monday, July 16, with the $60,000 final slated for Thursday, July 26.
(With quotes from WEG)
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.