Witch Dali closed from off the pace to steal the spotlight following a front-end speed duel during the third quarter in Friday night's featured $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Jody Jamieson worked out the winning trip aboard the seven-year-old Dali mare, who prevailed by a head over fellow late-closer American Sara in 1:50.1 for trainer Richard Moreau and owner Brad Grant.
Leaving from the outside post seven, the winner's stablemate Sandbetweenurtoes (Doug McNair) led the charge through a quarter in :27.1 and half in :55.2. That's when 7-5 favourite Firebby A (Louis-Philippe Roy) swept up to confront the pacesetter and the pair waged war through three-quarters in 1:22. Meanwhile, Witch Dali began to move forward from her early position in fifth. Firebby A eventually got by Sandbetweenurtoes in deep stretch, but not before Witch Dali and American Sara (Sylvain Filion) rolled by on the far outside.
Witch Dali was sent postward as the 5-2 second wagering choice and returned $7.70 to win. She notched her fifth Preferred win of the year from a dozen starts and pushed her annual income to $110,900.
A career winner of 28 races, Witch Dali now boasts $582,668 in purse earnings.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.