With 6-5 second choice Bet On Becky losing stride into the final turn, 1-2 favourite Caviart Audrey strolled around the Woodbine Mohawk Park oval to a 1:51.2 victory in the second of three divisions for the $214,915 Eternal Camnation on Saturday (Aug. 29).
The Somebeachsomewhere-Darlins Delight filly sprinted from post 5 to an open lead with Alumni Seelster chasing in second and Bet On Becky third. By the quarter in :28.1, Caviart Audrey continued on a loose lead to a :56.1 half before revving into the final turn.
Bet On Becky edged first over moving to three-quarters as Postscript caught brief cover until Bet On Becky broke stride. Caviart Audrey clipped three-quarters in 1:23.2 and sped through the lane to an open-length score over 99-1 shot Twin B Sunkissed, who slid by Postscript for second.
“No doubt it’s a huge mile but I’m not surprised one bit,” winning driver Yannick Gingras said after the race. “I think she’s a great filly. I loved her all winter long when I baby raced her, I thought she was a tremendous filly last week at Pocono. She just stepped around a shadow in the last turn, so that’s why tonight at the half—there were some shadows in the last turn—so I just got her in gear and made sure I had her attention and let her roll through.”
Winning her second race from three starts, Caviart Audrey has banked $64,225 for owner Caviart Farms. Nancy Takter trains the $3.10 winner.
Nightlife Seelster swept to the lead in the backstretch and led through a stretch headwind to take the first division in 1:54.3.
Even-money favourite Andra Day dashed to the lead from post 5 with Voelz Delight landing in second and Nightlife Seelster third to a :26.4 first quarter. Andra Day opened a slight lead into the backstretch before settling while driver Bob McClure angled Nightlife Seelster off the pylons. The Shawn Steacy trainee brushed to the lead past a :55.2 half and snagged a breather to three-quarters in 1:25.2 as City By The Bay rushed toward the lead uncovered.
In the stretch Nightlife Seelster held a slim lead with a fanned-out backfield giving chase. Adashious Hanover kicked off City By The Bay’s cover and closed on the leader. But Nightlife Seelster hit the finish in time to win by a neck over Adashious Hanover with Voelz Delight—splitting horses late—taking third.
“I had to use her way more than I wanted in the first half,” McClure said after the race. “She got a bit of a breather in the last turn, but its always handy to have the front when you have that headwind coming, too.”
Owned by Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc., Conrad Leber and Bertrand Gilhespy Stable, Nightlife Seelster won her second race from three starts, earning $50,894. The Sunshine Beach filly returned $8.60 to win.
Best Head West bolted out of the pocket to win in the final strides of the third Eternal Camnation split with a 1:53.1 mile.
Clearing command past a :27.3 first quarter, Best Head West yielded for the pocket up the backside as Scarlett Hanover ventured to take the lead before a :56 half. Scarlett Hanover continued on the lead unfettered through three-quarters in 1:25.1 and turned into the stretch with only Best Head West to turn away. The pair of 6-5 shots matched strides late in the stretch, but Best Head West edged past at the shadow of the finish to win. Spellcheck Hanover finished third with Lady Midnight fourth.
"They made a few changes and she's just hit her game now," driver Trevor Henry said after the race. "I had to put her up close like near the lead tonight. She's funny around the first turn—she won't pass [horses]. Once I got to the front, I was glad Yannick came [with Scarlett Hanover] because I was in trouble. She doesn't want to keep going... that's happened in her first start—she ran to the infield on me. She's just green, but she's a nice filly."
A homebred for Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., Best Head West won her third race from seven starts, earning $106,595. Robert McIntosh trains the Bettors Delight filly.
The Eternal Camnation divisions were some of the many major stakes events on the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup undercard. Be sure to check out the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup News Centre for all recaps and replays.