Caviar N Crackers completed a Mares Preferred grand slam at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the second time this year with a 1:51.2 victory on Friday, Aug. 1 for the driving and training, husband and wife team of Ed and Ashleigh Hensley.
Parked through a :27.4 opening quarter out of post five in the field of a half-dozen distaffers, 1-2 favourite Caviar N Crackers progressed to the lead ahead of early leavers Grit N Grace (Jody Jamieson) and Glenboro (Travis Cullen), clearing to command as they hit the straightaway. Caviar N Crackers remained clear on top the rest of the way through rated splits of :56.4 and 1:25.1, with Glenboro flushed from third but Grit N Grace fighting back at the pylons in the stretch in the race for place behind the 1-1/2-length winner.
After putting together a six-race win streak in the spring that included four straight in Mohawk's $36,000 top distaff class, the five-year-old mare's current Preferred grand slam pushes her seasonal win count into the double digits. In 24 starts this year, she's earned $216,840, with that total leading all older pacing mares so far this season in Canada and sixth best overall.
The daughter of Captive Audience out of Crackers Hot Shot has won 22 races lifetime and nearly $470,000.
The Dream Maker Series for two-year-old pacers continued on Friday night, with just seven heading to the gate for the $20,000 second leg. After watching their filly Jay complete a sweep of the two preliminary legs of the companion Whenuwishuponastar Series on Thursday, trainer Dr. Ian Moore and owners Wilma & James MacKenzie enjoyed more series success with their colt named Dad.
With Louis-Philippe Roy picking up the catch-drive, Dad moved into the outer flow from fifth down the backstretch gapping cover but then kicked into action off the final turn and sprinted home in :27 to score the victory in 1:52.1 by 1-1/4 lengths. Stingray Deo (Travis Henry), the 6-5 favourite, closed from behind to take second over Corona Seelster (James MacDonald) in a photo.
Dad was a third-place finisher in the opening leg of the series as the 7-2 second choice to winner Sweet Lovin Lou, who was not entered in round two. Dad was the second choice again, at 9-5 odds, and paid $5.70 to win. The Papi Rob Hanover-Paulas Best colt is now two-for-four in his young career.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)