Favourites had a tough time in the two-year-old trotting finals on Thursday, Aug. 8 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a 15-1 shot and a 11-1 choice sending their connections home with the lion's share of the lucrative purses.
True, Southwind Milk has been impressive thus far in her career. And yes, she was perfect in three starts heading into Thursday's $80,000 final of the Pure Ivory for two-year-old trotting fillies. But one trainer has owned this race since its first edition in 2014, and that's trainer Luc Blais.
Before Thursday, Blais boasted four Pure Ivory titles — more than any other trainer — and the first filly to win the Pure Ivory for him in 2016 was Dream Together. That filly's second foal is Lasting Dream (pictured above), who has now followed in her dam's footsteps as a Pure Ivory champion.
Sent away from post three by driver Louis-Philippe Roy, Lasting Dream landed in fourth early — one position ahead of 1-9 favourite Southwind Milk — as longshots Zette Athena (Sylvain Filion) and Telos (Todd Ratchford) took turns on top through a :28.2 first quarter and :58.2 half. Not wanting to tow James MacDonald and the favourite into position, Roy right-lined from fourth heading to the half and cleared to the lead just before the third quarter. Southwind Milk was advancing by the 1:27.1 third station, second over behind Clarissa W (Bob McClure).
Sensing the need for separation, Roy called on Lasting Dream to last on the lead and the filly responded with brisk trot and powerful strides approaching the line. Southwind Milk showed serious speed of her own, and closed in on the leader, but couldn't get to her before the wire. Lasting Dream tripped the timer in 1:54.1, a new lifetime mark and a new stakes record. Southwind Milk was second, three-quarters of a length back, with Clarissa W rounding out the top trio.
The mile time eclipsed the stakes record of 1:55.1 established in 2020 by former Blais pupil Donna Soprano.
"I felt the pace wasn't too crazy in the second quarter so I took a chance," said Roy after the win. "I really didn't want to tow James in on my back there, and I thought if I had a chance to beat the other filly I would probably have to make her work a lot. I looked around in the last turn and I thought in my mind I had James first up, and then I see second over again and I'm like 'holy...can't get a break!'
"But actually my filly raced really good and she earned that victory."
A homebred of Montreal's Determination, Lasting Dream (Cantab Hall - Dream Together) sports a 2-0-2 summary from her four appearances with $54,320 in earnings. As the 15-1 second choice in wagering, she returned $33.50 to win.
In the $79,500 Millard Farms final for two-year-old male trotters, the story here was once again an upset as Tregaron delivered for Team Young at odds of 11-1.
The complexion of this race changed dramatically at three times during the course of the evening. The first came before the horses went to the gate as Emoticon Legacy, who impressed in the first leg with a 1:55.3 victory on debut, was scratched sick from Thursday's final along with second leg runner-up Cover Band.
With eight horses heading to the gate, all eyes were on 2-5 rail starter Extended Session. After the wings of the gate folded, Extended Session rolled offstride and distanced himself from the field. The complexion seriously changed for those still in contention.
You Guessed It (Tyler Jones) carved out the first fractions of :27.4 and :57.1 with second choice Go Ahead Makemyday (Sylvain Filion) on his back. Filion right-lined on that 32-1 shot heading to the third station, and trotted right on by through a 1:26.2 third panel.
The race, at this point, was Go Ahead Makemyday's to lose. And he did, jumping it off uncontested in the lane to squander what appeared to be an easy win. Scott Young had Tregaron in an outer path after advancing first up around the far turn, and he avoided the breaker to inherit a clear path to the wire. Southwind Caspian (Paul MacDonell) gave futile chase as Tregaron tripped the timer in a maiden-breaking 1:55.2, five lengths the best. Right Here Hanover (McClure) nabbed the show spot.
"All winter they would go out and play and run and trot and did everything. But I left Florida in 2:20, and the last month down there they were starting to behave themselves," said trainer Bob Young of Tregaron and stablemate Cover Band. "It got a little warmer, and they started liking their work a lot more. They were paying attention."
Young went on to add that Tregaron's next assignment would come in the eliminations for the William Wellwood Memorial on Saturday, Aug. 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. That's where the son of Propulsion - Beautiful Mrs A will look to add to his $48,750 bankroll for owners Young, Premier And Associates Farm of Howell, Mi., Glengate Farms of Erin and Frank Chiaravalloti of Downsview, Ont.
Thursday's card at Mohawk also featured the opening leg of a Pop-Up Series for fillies and mares with a minimum of 10 starts in 2024 that were non-winners of $18,000 in 2024 or not averaging $1,500 per start on the season. There were three $12,000 divisions, with Yoda Queen (1:52.3; $4.50), Better Be Donna N (1:52.1; $8.00) and Cheesy Smile (1:52; $2.20) prevailing in the series' first leg.
For the full results for Thursday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)