Fans of young and gifted trotters got their money’s worth Monday evening at Mohawk Racetrack as the Campbellville oval hosted eliminations for the William Wellwood Memorial and the Peaceful Way.
Here’s what transpired in those $30,000 eliminations:
Peaceful Way – 1st elimination
Manchego stretched her undefeated streak to seven thanks to a dominant performance in her elimination for the tandem of driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter.
Gingras got away fourth with the two-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill-Secret Magic, but he had her on the move shortly after Apprentice M and Lima Novelty battled to the quarter pole in :28.2. Lima Novelty worked her way to the lead, but she was quickly overtaken by Manchego. Gingras and Manchego opened up through middle panels of :57.2 and 1:25.3, and the filly’s final quarter of :28.3 earned her win by 5-1/2 lengths over Courtney Hanover in 1:54.1. Repentance rounded out the top three finishers.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Manchego pushed her earnings over $350,000 with the win for Black Horse Racing, John Fielding and Herb Liverman.
Peaceful Way – 2nd elimination
Phaetosive had a lot of things going against her - a big gap in her schedule, a tough post and rough trip – but she overcame those obstacles for trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer.
Bella Glos led the field to the quarter pole in :27.4 with Phaetosive parked and pressing from Post 9. The fillies continued to battle into the backstretch, and it wasn’t until the mid-way point that Smedshammer managed to clear with his charge. The half flashed up in :57, and the three-quarter pole followed in 1:26.1 for Phaetosive who then used a :28.1 closing panel to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Tiffanys Flash in 1:54.2. Alloveragain was fourth-placed third as a result of Blonde Magic being third-placed-fifth for a double lapped-on break at the wire.
The daughter of Explosive Matter-Phaeton, who was sent off as the 3-5 favourite, improved her rookie record to 3-1-0 from four starts for Purple Haze Stables LLC of Fairport, NY. She owns a bankroll that climbed to $118,565 with the win.
William Wellwood Memorial – 1st elimination
Maxus pulled off a 6-1 upset in the first elimination thanks to a patience steer from driver Yannick Gingras.
The Jimmy Takter trainee left out from Post 9 and dropped into an early four-hole while his favoured stablemate, Samo Different Day, strolled through easy fractions of :28, :59.3 and 1:27.4. The leader tired and drifted off the rail, which allowed a host of challengers – including Maxus – to power up the pylons. Maxus kicked home in :28 and won by 1-3/4 lengths over Kinda Lucky Lindy in 1:56.2. Cruising In Style was third.
The two-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Gerris Joy races for New Jersey partners Christina Takter and Brixton Medical Inc. The colt improved his rookie record to 2-2-1 from eight starts with the win. His earnings climbed to $92,325.
William Wellwood Memorial – 2nd elimination
Alarm Detector tasted defeat for the first time in his career when he finished second in last week’s Champlain Stakes, but he bounced back with an impressive 1:54.4 tally in his elimination for the team of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Ben Baillargeon.
The two-year-old son of Chapter Seven-Final Countdown got away second and stalked Lawmaker to the quarter pole in :28.2. Race favourite You Know You Do popped out of the three-hole going into the backstretch, and after clearing to the top he went on to post the opening half in :58.2. Alarm Detector edged off the rail and took on You Know You Do to the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1. Alarm Detector muscled away late and used his :27.3 closing speed to win by 1-3/4 lengths over You Know You Do. Rounding out the top three finishers was Lawmaker.
Tom and Elizabeth Rankin share ownership on the talented youngster with Claude Hamel and Santo Vena. The rookie owns a 5-1-0 record from six starts while his bankroll sits at $76,870.
Here are the results of the post position draws for next Monday’s rich finals:
$375,000 Peaceful Way
1. Bella Glos
2. Blonde Magic
3. Phaetosive
4. Manchego
5. Jordan Blue Chip
6. Alloveragain
7. Tiffanys Flash
8. Illusioneesta
9. Repentance
10. Courtney Hanover
$400,000 William Wellwood Memorial
1. Cruising In Style
2. Clive Bigsby
3. Maxus
4. Alarm Detector
5. Samo Different Day
6. Sweet Talkin Hall
7. You Know You Do
8. Kinda Lucky Lindy
9. Lawmaker
10. Union Jack
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.