Millionaire stallion Daylon Magician lowered the Canadian season's record for older trotting horses and geldings with a 1:52.1 triumph in the co-featured $34,000 Preferred at Mohawk Racetrack early Saturday evening.
Driver Jack Moiseyev pulled Daylon Magician from the pocket and swept around early leader Whiskey Tax (Randy Waples) just past the opening quarter, which was clocked in :28.4, with the advancing outsider Fearless Man (Rick Zeron) settling into third. Daylon Magician continued to lead the field down the backstretch to the half in :57.2 and three-quarters 1:24.4 and held off Whiskey Tax in the stretch for the one length victory despite drifting off the pylons. Favourite Charmed Life (Jody Jamieson), last week's Preferred winner, closed off cover to finish third over five lengths behind.
Sebastian K and Slip Into Glide previously shared the Canadian season's record for older male trotters of 1:52.2.
Daylon Magician is trained by Moiseyev for David and Mary Lemon's Daylon Farms Ltd. of Komoka, Ont. The six-year-old homebred son of Kadabra earned his first win in Canada this year and fourth in 16 starts while lifting his seasonal earnings to $79,850. Lifetime, he is 22-for-53 with a bankroll of more than $1.68 million.
Daylon Magician paid $8.80 to win as the 7-2 second choice.
Four-year-old pacer Sunshine Beach earned the first victory of his aged campaign in the matching Preferred Pace.
In rein to Mohawk's leading driver Chris Christoforou, Sunshine Beach sprinted off the gate from post eight and cleared to the lead over Upfront Hoosierboy (Randy Waples) past the :26.3 first quarter mark. As he led the way to the half in :55.2, Modern Legend (Jack Moiseyev) launched a first over attack from fourth and battled head-to-head with the leader down the backstretch. However, Sunshine Beach brushed off that challenger en route to the third quarter station in 1:21.2, opening up four lengths on top, and cruised home for the victory in 1:49 flat. Bestofbest Hanover (Sylvain Filion) closed well to finish one length behind the winner while Upfront Hoosierboy edged out Modern Legend for third.
One of the stars of last year's Glamour Boy division, the son of Somebeachsomewhere earned his first win this year following four Open stakes starts. Mark Steacy trains the career winner of 10 races and $973,358 for owners Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, Que., Conrad Leber of Montreal, Que., Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, Alta. and Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. of Wallkill, New York.
Sent postward as the 3-1 second choice in the field, Sunshine Beach paid $8.30 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.