The five-year-old Somebeachsomewhere mare Kissin In The Sand made her first start back to the track off a sick scratch in the Roses Are Red a winning one with a 1:49.2 victory in the first of two $35,000 eliminations for the Milton Stakes on Saturday (Sept. 19) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Race-favourite Warrawee Ubeaut brushed to the lead by a :26.3 first quarter and raced uncontested through middle fractions of :54.4 and 1:22.2. The 6-5 choice appeared uncatchable in the stretch, opening a three-and-a-quarter length lead on the field, but started to shorten stride into the final eighth. Kissin In The Sand, riding the pylons throughout, sprinted off the pegs and chased after the tiring leader with Treacherous Reign rallying from the back. The Nancy Takter trainee hit the finish a half-length better than Warrawee Ubeaut with Treacherous Reign settling for third. Lit De Rose and Stonebridge Soul also qualified for the final.
“I think that was probably about the worst trip she’s had as far as putting her in a position to win,” winning driver Jody Jamieson said after the race. “It just worked out—[Warrawee] Ubeaut just had an off night and Kissin In The Sand was inside for most of the way. She’s supposed to go a pretty big trip once she gets loose from that spot, and she did. So I was real happy about that.”
Owned by Marvin Katz and Hatfield Stables, Kissin In The Sand won her second race from six starts this season and her 21st from 52 overall, earning $1,386,927. She paid $8.10 to win.
Trillions Hanover swept to the front early and hit the finish in time to win the second Milton elimination narrowly in 1:50.3.
Tall Drink Hanover hustled to the front moving to a :26.4 first quarter with Boadicea second and Trillions Hanover in third. Into the backstretch driver Bob McClure angled Trillions Hanover off the pylons and grabbed control to a :55.4 half. Boadicea edged first over rounding the final turn as 4-5 favourite Caviart Ally attempted to advance, but was forced three wide to three-quarters in 1:23.1.
Into the stretch, Trillions Hanover maintained a near two-length lead but clung to control nearing the finish as So Much More motored off cover with Caviart Ally between horses. At the finish Trillions Hanover kept a head in front of So Much More and Caviart Ally to win with Philly Hanover and Boadicea rounding the top five.
“It seemed like Yannick [Gingras on Tall Drink Hanover] was looking for some cover. We weren’t going much up the backside. Watching my filly’s races, it looks like she’s very deep; she’s always pacing hard at the wire. So I figured to put her into that situation to where she can [get] a chance to get tired and fight through it. And she’s tough—she’s got big lungs, a big heart and she likes to race.”
Winning her second race from nine starts this season and her 12th from 31 overall, Trillions Hanover has earned $362,869 for owners VIP Internet Stable LLC, Falcon Racing LLC and Paul Lang. Tom Fanning trains the $10.00 winner.
The Milton eliminations were one of the handful of major stakes events on the Saturday card at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Recaps from the other races are available at the following links:
To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.