Evenin Of Pleasure racked up his fourth straight Preferred victory, winning Saturday's $34,000 featured pace at Mohawk Racetrack in wire-to-wire fashion.
This week's Preferred field was reduced to just four starters with State Treasurer scratched.
Driver Sylvain Filion fired Evenin Of Pleasure off the gate from the outside and quickly crossed to command. The overwhelming 1-5 favourite carved out fractions of :26.2, :54.4 and 1:23.3 with Ellis Park (Randy Waples) hot on his heels in the pocket and Nickle Bag (Trevor Henry) moving first over on the final turn, followed by American Virgin (Jody Jamieson). As the compact group raced into the stretch, Evenin Of Pleasure began to sprint away. Ellis Park was shown open road out of the two-hole, but couldn't catch the pacesetter, who prevailed by one length in 1:50.1. American Virgin finished third over Nickle Bag.
Richard Moreau trains the six-year-old son of Dragon Again, who boasts victories in the Molson Pace and a total of five Preferred events this year. Evenin Of Pleasure's annual earnings climbed over the $200,000 mark and his career earnings passed the $700,000 plateau for owner Gestion J Y Blais Inc. of Montreal, Que.
Evenin Of Pleasure paid $2.60 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.