Hambletonian champion Ramona Hill made a successful return to Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday night (Sept. 11).
Trotting sophomores took their turn in the Simcoe Stakes spotlight Friday with three divisions, two for fillies and one for colts and geldings.
Tony Alagna trainee Ramona Hill turned in an easy-looking victory in her $88,894 Simcoe division for driver Andrew McCarthy. The daughter of Muscle Hill got away third and calmly moved to the lead in the second-quarter, posting fractions of :57, 1:25.1 before a :28.1 final-quarter to stop the clock in 1:53.2. Her nearest rival, Susies Lady, rallied for second five-and-a-half lengths back. Trina and Modern Mass completed the top four.
“She felt very strong,” said McCarthy. “It worked out where I got to sit her in there for a second and then move to the front and she did that as easy as she likes and was very strong finishing.”
Ramona Hill’s last visit to Woodbine Mohawk Park saw her win the Breeders Crown from post 10. This season has been nearly perfect with five wins in six starts to bring her career record to 11 for 13. Her latest victory brings her seasonal earnings to $775,982 and career earnings to nearly $1.3 million for owners Brad Grant, Crawford Farms Racing, Robert LeBlanc and In The GYM Partners.
Ramona Hill, who is eligible to next Saturday’s (Sept. 16) Elegantimage, had $54,398 wagered on her to win from a pool of $62,884.
Owner Grant made it a sweep of Friday’s Simcoe Filly Trot as Warrawee Vicky came through in the $88,895 first division.
Driven by Doug McNair, Warrawee Vicky received a two-hole trip behind Whose Blues and just reached up in the final strides to win a four-across finish in 1:54. She Rocks Kemp finished second by a head, while Whose Blues was third by a neck and a rallying Princesspartypants crossed the line fourth by half a length.
“I was thinking about second there halfway down the lane, then I was thinking about fourth but she stuck her nose out and won the race for us,” McNair said after the race. “She raced great.”
A daughter of Royalty For Life, Warrawee Vicky is now three for six on the campaign with nearly $150,000 earned for owner Grant. The OSS Gold winner is trained by Scott McEneny and now sports eight wins and over $300,000 in earnings. She is eligible to the upcoming Elegantimage Stakes.
Warrawee Vicky paid $16.70 to win.
Jula Trix Treasure came first up to win the $167,511 Simcoe for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Yannick Gingras guided the Ake Svanstedt trainee to the 1:53.4 score.
Capricornus made the front in the second-quarter, posting a :56 half. Jula Trix Treasure got underway from fifth nearing the half and marched up and around the tiring leader to hit three-quarter in 1:25.2.
Jula Trix Treasure sealed the victory with a :28.2 final-quarter to defeat Threefiftytwo by a half length. Horse Trader rallied for third, while Beyond Kronos was fourth.
“He was really good tonight; really awake and alert in the post parade,” Gingras said after the race. “I think that’s when he’s best—maybe he’s a little bit lazy. Sarah [Svanstedt] said he had a good week and I gave him a chance and he raced really big. It was just about keeping him on his business finishing. Once I cleared I knew Bobby [McClure] was in a tough spot there. I didn’t hear him coming until real late, but at that point I figured I had it won.”
A son of Trixton, Jula Trix Treasure is now three for 10 on the season with $166,335 earned for owners Jula Racing Inc. He now has five wins and over $180,000 banked.
Jula Trix Treasure is eligible to the upcoming Canadian Trotting Classic. He paid $8.20 to win.
Live racing continues Saturday evening (Sept. 12) at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a $1.6 million stakes-filled card. The $535,000 William Wellwood Memorial is the headliner. Post time is 7 p.m. (EDT).
(with files from Woodbine Mohawk Park)
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.