Gracie Montana and Ferrari Sena captured their $30,000 second leg divisions of the Girls’ Night Out Pacing Series to mark their spot in the $50,000 final taking place next Friday, August 10 at Mohawk Racetrack.
Gracie Montana, sent off at odds of 12-1, came from well off-the-pace to score the upset win for driver Jody Jamieson. The five-year-old daughter of Camluck sat behind fractions of :26.1, :54.2 and 1:23.1, before rallying wide from the backfield and unleashing a :26.2 final frame to get up for the 1:51.1 career-best score over Dont Point At (Jack Moiseyev). Sans Frontiere (Marie Claude Auger) also closed well to finish third.
“She has been showing some good closing efforts in the past and I knew if she got the right kind of trip she would be very competitive in this race,” Jamieson said following the win. “The Girls’ Night Out Pacing Series is a wide-open affair and I felt I gave her a terrible drive last week [finishing fifth], but tonight I knew if I had her in position she would kick home like she usually does.”
Bill Davis trains the 27-time winner for Debbie and Jeffrey Elchuk of Surrey, B.C.. The brown mare increased her bankroll to $185,383. She paid $26.40 to win.
After capturing her division in the opening leg of the Girls’ Night Out Pacing Series, Ferrari Sena and Luc Ouellette once again found the winner’s circle. The four-year-old daughter of Bolero Master pocket-pulled her way to the front past the opening station in :26.3. The 14-time winner then marched past the half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:24.2 and held off her rivals in deep stretch to score the narrow victory in 1:52.2. Early leader Ms Goliath (Sylvain Filion) finished second by a head with Jonsie Jones (Randy Waples) completing the triactor over four lengths behind.
“Last week I had to use her pretty hard to get to the front because he has the 10-hole,” said Ouellette following the win. “This week was a little different with a better post position and I could navigate her a little bit better. I did decide to move her to the front because I thought she would get a little more respect.”
Trained by Marie Claude Auger for owner Serge Nadeau of Scott, Que., Ferrari Sena’s lifetime earnings now sit at $64,720. She paid $5.70 to win.
The Girls’ Night Out Pacing Series is for older pacing mares, who are non-winners of $30,000 in 2012 as of midnight July 1, with a minimum of five starts this year. Winners of over $100,000 in 2011 are ineligible.
The final is slated for the same night as the Girls’ Night Out extravaganza. Ladies in attendance can win a pair of floor seat tickets to the upcoming Madonna concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Also included in the package, the lucky winner will dine at the highly-regarded Turf Lounge, receive a $500 Elmwood Spa certificate, and a one-night stay at the Royal York Hotel.
Each participant will also receive a complimentary $10 cash card to play in the exclusive Girls’ Night Out Handicapping Challenge. The Handicapping Challenge winner will walk away with the Madonna prize pack, valued at $2,000.
The contest is open to the first 50 women who register at Trackside Bar & Patio on August 10. Each person will also receive a complimentary Girls’ Night Out gift bag.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)