Ohmygosh Hanover had racing fans calling his name when he stopped the clock in 1:51.4 to record one of the fastest miles for a first-time starter on Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack while Miss Scarlett equaled the Canadian season's record
for aged pacing mares with her 1:50 effort in the $38,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace.
Driven by Mark MacDonald for trainer Casie Coleman, Ohmygosh Hanover entered the eighth race condition event for freshmen off a 1:56 qualifying effort last week. The two-year-old son of The Panderosa-Ohhs N Aahs left from Post 8 and tracked Dapper Denzil (Jody Jamieson) from the pocket through fractions of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:23.3 before sprinting home in :27.3 for the three and a quarter length victory. Dapper Denzil was the runner-up and Scenic Art (Randy Waples) rounded out the top three, finishing eight and a half lengths behind.
Dali holds the 1:51.3 record for the fastest freshman debut.
Ohmygosh Hanover, a half-brother to Western Hanover mare Omen Hanover ($617,299), was purchased by Tom Hill of Lancashire, Great Britain for $52,000 in the Harrisburg Sale. The colt was making his first lifetime start after qualifying twice.
"I wasn't expecting the [1]:51.4 mile that's for sure," Coleman told WEG's media department. "He trained down okay, but not like a good or great colt. His first qualifier in 2:00 was horrendous, I don't know what was wrong with him. With babies you never know and this was a very good surprise."
Ohmygosh Hanover paid $8.40 to win as the 3-1 second choice.
In Friday’s featured Mares Open, 6-5 favourite Miss Scarlett and driver Jody Jamieson crossed over from Post 6 and settled down along the pylons ahead of Call Me Yours (Sylvain Filion) in a :26-second opening quarter. She continued her wicked pace putting up middle fractions of :53.2 and 1:21.1 before opening up two lengths on the field of seven with an eighth of a mile to go.
Blissful Smile (Jack Moiseyev) came flying from the backfield late but Miss Scarlett hung on for the half-length victory in a career-best 1:50 flat, equaling the Canadian season’s record held by A Ps Moneymaker, Dreamfair Eternal, Windsun Countess and Tug River Princess.
Miss Scarlett paid $4.70 to win as the popular choice. The five-year-old daughter of Red River Hanover-Odds On J P notched her third (consecutive) victory in eight starts this year lifting her earnings to $47,750 for trainer Rousell MacKenzie. Charles, Julie and Francene Nash of Lexington, Kentucky own the winner of 14 races lifetime, who saw her bankroll surpass the $500,000 mark.
To view Friday’s results, click here.
(With quotes from WEG)