The Somebeachsomewhere on Saturday night (Aug. 28) at Woodbine Mohawk Park offered one final prep for a group of Pepsi North America Cup eligible colts, while a single Simcoe division for pacing fillies offered a possible Fan Hanover prep.
A group of 13 three-year-old pacers were split into a pair of Somebeachsomewhere divisions.
Bulldog Hanover stamped himself as the favourite heading into the "Cup" eliminations with an impressive 1:48.2 victory in the $85,250 second division. Jody Jamieson guided the Jack Darling trainee to the career-best score.
“We were looking for a big effort like this going into the NA Cup next week,” said Darling. “Last week he was good, but not as good as he had been and Jody said he was just kind of spinning his wheels a bit, so we just made some minor alterations to his shoeing and it seemed to help.”
The early stages of the contest saw Bettor Sun and Bulldog Hanover land second and third behind Bettim Again. Both horses were given their cue to drive around the early leader in the first turn, with Bulldog Hanover securing the lead shortly after completing three-eighths of the mile. ‘Bulldog’ rolled by the half in :55.1 and then smoked the third-quarter in :27 before kicking home in :26.1 under no urging for the victory of three lengths.
Bettor Sun edged stablemate Jimmy Connor B for second.
A son of Shadow Play, Bulldog Hanover is now five for seven this season, nine for 13 overall in his career and has earned $552,811. He is owned by Jack Darling Stables Limited and Brad Grant.
Darling has no plans to change any routines for Bulldog Hanover heading into next Saturday’s Cup eliminations.
“For him it’ll be just the same as he’s had. We just have to keep him happy and sound and just train lightly midweek. Nothing fancy, it’s all up to him now.”
Bulldog Hanover paid $2.40 to win.
Whichwaytothebeach showed plenty of fight to score the victory in the $86,250 first division. The Brett Pelling trainee came first-up from third on the final turn for driver Sylvain Filion and kept fighting in the lane to secure the lead and stop the clock in a career-best 1:49.2. Desperate Man was in full flight late to finishing second by half a length.
“I was told that he likes to chase horses,” said Filion post-race. “I was happy to get in the three-hole and stay there as long as I could and then I had to move him first-up and I just grinded myself to the front and he kept going. He raced really huge.”
Stonebridge Rex cut the mile, posting fractions of :26.3, :55.2 and 1:23.1 before surrendering the lead in the lane and finishing fourth. Pirate Hanover finished third.
Fittingly, Whichwaytothebeach is a son of Somebeachsomewhere and has now won seven of 10 starts this season and 11 of 18 career starts. The Pelling trainee increases his career earnings to $332,783 for owners Alan Johnston and John Craig.
A $2 win ticket on Whichwaytothebeach returned $4.10.
The Francis Dumouchel trained Twin B Sunkissed showed plenty of fight to win Saturday’s $169,550 Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Driver Yannick Gingras moved Twin B Sunkissed from third to first in the second-quarter and never surrendered the lead to win by three-quarters of a length over Voelz Delight in a career-best 1:51.1. Good Night Moon was third, while Paulas Bet Hanover was fourth.
“Voelz [Delight] is a really nice filly, but it was never in doubt,” said Gingras. “I popped the plugs half way down the stretch, but I was really confident.
“[Francis Dumouchel] told me she had problems early in the season tying up and allergies, but he thought he had it figured out now and that Sylvain [Filion] really hadn’t asked her for too miuch her last two starts and she won in hand.”
Twin B Sunkissed has now won three races in a row to improve her 2021 record to three wins and $113,956 earned. The daughter of Sunshine Beach sports career numbers of four wins and $240,068 earned for owners Dumouchel, Ecurie CSL and 9174 7998 Quebec Inc.
A $2 win ticket on Twin B Sunkissed returned $5.30.
(Woodbine Communications)
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Don't know what it is but I
Don't know what it is but I swear to God Jack's hair looks better as he ages. Go get em JD!
There's now a $233,000
There's now a $233,000 carryover in the Pick-5 pool, just in time for NAC night, in which there will most likely be a mandatory payout.