Freshman pacing sensation Beau Jangles and stateside invader Frantic Hanover etched another win onto their unblemished cards in taking their respective $40,000 Metro Pace eliminations on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, while Loua Dipa claimed top billing from the two $35,000 eliminations for the Shes A Great Lady with a track- and Canadian-record-equalling performance.
Beau Jangles asserted dominance over his five rivals with a 1:49.3 mile to run his unbeaten streak to seven in the opening elimination of the Metro for freshman pacing colts and geldings.
Bob McClure sent the Dr. Ian Moore trainee for the lead to cut a :26.1 first quarter as Sweet Lovin Lou (James MacDonald) crept forward to his outside while parked off the pylons. McClure yielded control briefly to Sweet Lovin Lou into the backstretch and looped back to the top before a :55 half. Beau Jangles then sailed through the last turn to clock three-quarters in 1:23.2 and pulled away effortlessly from his peers in the stretch to notch a 1-3/4-length win. Al Papi (Yannick Gingras) took second from a first-over push with Sweet Lovin Lou holding third, Fragment (Jason Bartlett) taking fourth and Redland Rocket Man (Louis-Philippe Roy) earning the last spot into the final.
“He’s been perfect every week,” Bob McClure said after the race. “I can’t compare whether he was sharp or not. But I sure was happy he got the week off. One thing, when you’re driving Doc [Moore]’s [horses], you don’t have to worry about fitness level or being short. I knew he was going in at a hundred per cent. He made that look easy, but he just does everything almost on cruise. I don’t think he’ll have it that easy next week, but that’s a test for next week."
A colt by Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill, Beau Jangles has amassed $472,125 in earnings for owners Graham Grace Stables LLC of Clifton, Va., Kiwi Stables LLC of La Plata, Md., and Bolton Stables of Clermont, Fla. from his seven victories.
“It’s just fun to watch him, like I’m enjoying it,” Moore said after the race. “I’ve had good fortune to have a lot of decent horses over the last 20 years or so. I’ve enjoyed every one of them. I used to get tensed up with some of them, but nowadays I just enjoy the moment. Whatever happens, happens.”
Beau Jangles, sent off as the 2-5 favourite, paid $2.80 to win.
Frantic Hanover powered away with the other Metro Pace elimination as the 1-9 choice with a 1:49.4 stroll.
Tim Tetrick brushed Frantic Hanover to the top out of third after a :27.2 first quarter and cleared to command on the approach to a :56 half. He coasted through the last turn to hit three-quarters in 1:23.2 and revved away in a matter of steps while straightening for the finish. Tetrick geared his charge down in the last eighth and held a 3-1/4-length lead crossing the line while chased by Superchamp Hanover (Matt Kakaley) in second. Tilthecowscomehome (Jody Jamieson) settled for third off a pocket trip with Stingray Deo (Travis Henry) finishing fourth and No Waitlist (Gingras) rounding out the top five.
“He’s only had the plugs pulled one time and that was his second lifetime start I think – and that was a [1:]50[.4] mile at The Meadows early in the season,” Tetrick said after the race. “He’s a super nice colt and he’s done everything I’ve liked [for] him to do. His ears are up, he’s happy, and I still don’t think he’s gone to work yet.”
Ron Burke trains Frantic Hanover, a colt by Stay Hungry-Francessa, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, Pa., Brad Grant of Milton, Ont., Knox Services Inc. of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, Pa. The colt, making his Canadian debut, also notched his seventh straight victory and raised his earnings to $436,879 as he prepares to spar against the undefeated Beau Jangles in the Metro Pace final next Saturday.
“I wish [Beau Jangles] wasn’t in there, it’d make my job easier,” Tim Tetrick said with a laugh. “But I’ve watched him and I’ve been super impressed with him since I saw him win in [1:]50[.1] in his first start here. He looks like a war horse on the track and Doc does a good job with him. He’s going to be a contender for sure, so we just have to out-maneuver him a bit.”
Frantic Hanover paid $2.10 to win.
Loua Dipa uncorked a dominant mile to equal the track and Canadian record with a pillar-to-post win as the favourite in the first Shes A Great Lady elimination.
Loua Dipa and driver James MacDonald crossed over from post six to the front in a :26.1 first quarter and settled on the point with her foes single-file behind her strolling to a :55.2 half. MacDonald pushed the pedal through the last turn and past three-quarters in 1:23.2, and Loua Dipa sprinted home under a snug hold for a half-length win in 1:49.3. Perfect Thought (Scott Zeron) gave chase off a pocket ride for second with Im A Lou Lou (Tetrick) finishing third, another 5-1/4 lengths behind. Fabulous Hanover (Roy) and Adina Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.) claimed the last berths into the final.
“Ronnie [Burke] liked her all along. In Florida, he was telling us how much he liked her and she was coming along great,” assistant trainer Mickey Burke said after the race. “It’s just nice having homebreds that are going out, with our own stud and everything, doing these kinds of miles. James did a great job. He didn’t push her at the end and just let her finish home and saved something for next week.”
Ron Burke trains Loua Dipa, a homebred filly by Sweet Lou-Looksgoodinaromper, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The filly scored her fifth win from six starts and has now collected $238,797 in earnings. Her 1:49.3 lifetime-best effort also equalled the track and Canadian record for a two-year-old pacing filly set by Lyons Sentinel in 2019 and matched in 2023 by Pass Line. Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, she paid $3.10 to win.
Daya denied all late pursuers for a gritty 1:51.3 victory in the second Shes A Great Lady elimination.
Driver Jody Jamieson attempted to tuck the Jack Darling pupil into fourth entering the first turn, but the headstrong filly forced Jamieson to pull and chug forward for the lead through a :27.1 first quarter. Daya overtook Jen Tilly (Gingras) moving onto the backstretch and stayed on the muscle to a :55.3 half and 1:23.3 three-quarters, at which point Jen Tilly pulled from the pocket to attack coming for the stretch drive. Jen Tilly pulled alongside Daya in the lane, but Jamieson kept his charge brave through the fight. Daya successfully repelled all late comers in the closing stages for a three-quarter-length win over Jen Tilly. Twin B Fierce (Doug McNair) finished third with Sangria Summer (Trevor Henry) taking fourth and Th Check Me Out (MacDonald) claiming the last spot into the final.
“You’re never confident until the wire, but she’s been a great filly all summer,” Jamieson said after the race. “She is high-energy and she was a little extra high-energy today in the post parade, so hopefully she’ll be a little more relaxed in the post parade going for the big money. She showed some will tonight. Yannick came out of the pocket and headed her, and she didn’t give up – a lot of horses would give up there.”
Winning her fifth race from eight starts, Daya has now banked $242,976 for owner Jack Darling Stables Ltd. of Cambridge, Ont. The filly by Bulldog Hanover-Beach Of A Time paid $6.40 to win.
“We’re always tinkering with her,” trainer Jack Darling said after the race. “You’ve got to keep her ears really plugged – any noise gets her keyed up. It’s an ongoing thing; we’re trying to keep her calm.
"Tonight Jody was in a little bit of trouble when he tried to drop in fourth, so he had to make that move to the front. But the way she dug in coming to the wire, I was really proud of her.”
Following the Shes A Great Lady eliminations, Woodbine Mohawk Park conducted a draw for the $470,000 final of the race for two-year-old pacing fillies scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 20. The winners from each elimination earned priority and draw protection between posts two and six. Below is the field.
$470,000 Shes A Great Lady (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Elim Driver - Trainer
1. Twin B Fierce - Doug McNair - Gregg McNair
2. Adina Hanover - Billy Davis Jr. - Shawn Steacy
3. Loua Dipa - James MacDonald - Ron Burke
4. Im A Lou Lou - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke
5. Th Check Me Out - James MacDonald - Blake MacIntosh
6. Daya - Jody Jamieson - Jack Darling
7. Fabulous Hanover - Louis-Philippe Roy - Nancy Takter
8. Jen Tilly - Yannick Gingras - Scott McEneny
9. Perfect Thought - Scott Zeron - Megan Scran
10. Sangria Summer - Trevor Henry - Kevin Benn
Woodbine Mohawk Park also conducted draws for the pair of sophomore trotting stakes on the Mohawk Million undercard next Saturday. The $615,000 Canadian Trotting Classic and the $375,000 Elegantimage were conducted as open draws since no eliminations were contested. Below are the fields.
$615,000 Canadian Trotting Classic (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Trainer
1. Gap Kronos S - Ake Svanstedt
2. Maryland - Marcus Melander
3. Happy Jack B - Ake Svanstedt
4. Fadeaway Hanover - Ben Baillargeon
5. Go Ahead Makemyday - Blake MacIntosh
6. Emoticon Legacy - Luc Blais
7. Southwind Caspian - Matt Bax
8. Wildturkey Hanover - Ron Waples Jr.
9. Meshuggah - Marcus Melander
10. Landing On Time - Rick Zeron
$375,000 Elegantimage Final (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Trainer
1. Zette Athena - Justin Turcotte
2. Global Heritage - Domenico Cecere
3. R Charm - Linda Toscano
4. Margareta Hanover - Marcus Melander
5. Highlandstarburst - Nancy Takter
6. Xalapa - Nancy Takter
7. Roxie Hart - Ben Baillargeon
8. P L Sapphire - Matt Dupuis
9. R Dutchess - Susie Kerwood
10. Lasting Dream - Luc Blais
11. Stormont Beautiful - Kevin Benn
The remaining highlight races for next Saturday’s card, the Metro Pace and the Mohawk Million, will draw on Monday.
Remember The Alamo headlined the undercard action with a pocket-riding score in the $40,000 Preferred Pace. MacDonald left with the four-year-old to secure a seat behind Dublin Dasher (Travis Cullen), who got the front heading to a :25.3 quarter. He was a lone leader through the half in :55.1 and three-quarters in 1:23 but was joined by Remember The Alamo down the stretch. Dublin Dasher stayed tough into the last eighth but could not resist Remember The Alamo, who vaulted past him late to win by a length in 1:49.2. Poseidon Seelster (McClure) was third. The win price was $5.
Remember The Alamo, a son of Captaintreacherous-Ameraway, has won two Preferred-level events and was a narrow second to Ewart Memorial winner Ervin Hanover in another since moving to Woodbine Mohawk Park. The stallion is now eight-for-16 this season and has won 11 of 35 career starts with $317,958 in earnings. Ben Baillargeon trains him and partners in ownership with Santo Vena of Cedar Valley, Ont., Nunzio Vena of Bolton, Ont., and Frank Cirillo of Kleinburg, Ont.
Grit N Grace appeared to be back in top form with a convincing 1:50.1 victory in the Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace. She sprinted off the gate for Jamieson and took control midway through the first turn with :26.1 speed to the first station. No challenge came through the middle splits of :55.1 and 1:23.2, and Grit N Grace pulled away as they came down the stretch. Jamieson then wound her down, and the mare coasted to a 1-3/4-length win. Absolution (Todd Ratchford) was up for second over Glenboro (Cullen).
Grit N Grace has now won back-to-back starts after a string of three races in which she did not hit the board. The four-year-old, trained by Mike Kwietniowski, won three straight Preferreds earlier this season and has tallied 10 times in 25 outings this year. The daughter of Im The Pied Piper-Dragonart has earned $269,185 and won 17 times in 41 appearances for owner-breeder Lorraine Rey of St. Claude, Man. She returned $2.90 at the windows.
American History made personal history in the 12th-race finale, recording his 50th career win. Dale Spence slid the veteran gelding into the three-hole to the quarter in :26.3 before sending him to the top on the backstretch. American History grabbed command approaching the half in :55.1 and bottomed out the field, rocketing away by six lengths at three-quarters in 1:22.2. The win was never in doubt from there as the 10-year-old glided to the finish with a seven-length margin at the line in 1:50.2. Cruise Hanover (Jamieson) won the race for place over Better Sunset (Travis Henry).
The win was the first for American History since returning to the Mackenzie Spence barn after his June 28 start. The 2019 Breeders Crown champion reached the half-century of wins in his 201st appearance while increasing his bankroll to $1,906,970. The American Ideal-Perfect Touch stallion is owned by Patrick Hill of Fredericton, N.B. He paid $4.70 to win.
To read about the Milton Stakes that was also held on the card, click here.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Woodbine & Standardbred Canada)