Hambletonian Oaks champion Sorella set a Canadian record in her Woodbine Mohawk Park debut on Friday (August 28) to headline a pair of $81,405 Casual Breeze Stakes divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies.
Sorella kicked the night off in style in the opening Casual Breeze split, crushing rivals by nine lengths in 1:51.3 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Nancy Takter. The clocking of 1:51.3 broke the previous Canadian and track record of 1:51.4 co-held by Ariana G and Manchego.
A daughter of Muscle Hill, Sorella moved to the lead in the second quarter and posted panels of :55.3 and 1:24.1 before saying goodbye to her competition with a :27.2 kicker. Whose Blues finished second, while Princesspartypants edged out She Rocks Kemp for third.
Sorella is now five-for-seven on the season after going two-for-nine as a rookie. The Hambletonian Oaks champion has now made over $400,000 this season to bring her career total over $550,000 for owners Elmer Fannin, Crawford Farms Racing and Brent Fannin.
The Takter-trained Sorella is eligible to the upcoming Simcoe and Elegantimage Stakes. She paid $2.20 to win.
McKees Angel rebounded from some recent miscues to win the second Casual Breeze division in 1:54.2 for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Ben Baillargeon.
Early action and movement settled down when McKees Angel and Filion powered to the top in the second quarter from fifth, clearing just after a :56.4 half. Race favourite Wine Rack Hanover sat in the two-hole, as McKees Angel led by three-quarters in 1:25.2.
In the stretch, ‘Wine Rack’ took a shot at McKees Angel, but the Baillargeon trainee turned her aside and trotted off to a 1:54.2 score. Susies Lady rallied from well back to finish a flying second, beat a length. Modern Mass was third, while Wine Rack Hanover was fourth.
A daughter of Archangel, McKees Angel was making just her second start in the Baillargeon barn. She made a break in her debut on August 13 before qualifying on August 18. The Casual Breeze victory was her first in seven starts this season.
McKees Angel now has three wins and $79,656 earned in 15 career starts for owner/breeders Legendary Standardbred Fa. of Mt. Morris, New York.
Baillargeon confirmed that she’ll now head towards the Simcoe and Elegantimage.
A $2 win ticket on McKees Angel returned $10.20.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(With files from Mohawk Park)