Shower Play rallied from second over to nail pocket-popping Percy Bluechip to win the $125,000 single-dash Ontario Sires Stakes Gold prelim for three-year-old filly pacers in 1:52.3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Write Me A Song took the lead from post two with Percy Bluechip getting away second and Shower Play, the 4-5 favourite, positioned fifth nine lengths off the lead. Past the quarter in :28.1, Shower Play edged off the rail and began a first over charge through a :56.1 half.
Moving to within three lengths of the front around the final turn, Shower Play picked up cover from Percy Bluechip pulling pocket by three-quarters in 1:24 before fanning to the center of the course into the stretch. Shower Play gradually slid past Percy Bluechip approaching the wire and extended to a neck advantage at the wire. Kendall Seelster, from off cover, finished third three lengths behind.
Owned by Rene Dion, Susie Kerwood and Martin Leveillee, Shower Play, by Shadow Play, won her sixth race in 11 starts this season and her ninth in 16 overall, earning $516,800. Louis Philippe-Roy steered the $3.70 winner.
Hambletonian-champion Atlanta battled heavy rain and older rivals to finish second in Tuesday’s $34,000 Preferred at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Four-year-old trotting mare Royal Witch delivered a top-notch effort in the rain to pull off a 12-1 upset victory in 1:56.1 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ben Baillargeon.
Dunbar Hall fronted the field of six into the backstretch after being parked through a :28.4 opening-quarter, leading to the half in :58.4.
Royal Witch came first over from third for Gingras on the far turn and trotted around Dunbar Hall, who broke stride before the three-quarter pole. Atlanta and trainer-driver Rick Zeron got away fourth and stayed inside on the far turn to sit fifth and just over three-lengths from the lead.
After reaching three-quarters in 1:27.2, Royal Witch sealed the deal with a :28.4 final-quarter for her eighth win of the season. Atlanta and Zeron finished well, making up ground in the lane and splitting horses late to edge B Yoyo for second. The margin of victory was a length and a quarter.
A daughter of Kadabra, Royal Witch has now earned $109,300 in 17 starts this season and her 11th career victory pushes her to $224,793 in lifetime earnings for owners Tom and Elizabeth Rankin.
Royal Witch, taking her first Preferred victory, paid $27.80 to win.
Hambletonian champion Atlanta was making her first start since finishing third in the $340,000 Elegantimage on September 15. The Zeron trained daughter of Chapter Seven is being towards the Kentucky Filly Futurity on Oct. 7 at The Red Mile for her next start.
Atlanta, who has won six of 10 starts this season, increased her seasonal earnings to $784,902 with her 10th on-the-board finish of the season. Her career earnings currently sit at $919,977 for owners Zeron, Crawford Farms, Holland Racing Stable, Howard Taylor and Brad Grant.
Live racing resumes Thursday, Sept. 27 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7:10 p.m.
(With files from Woodbine Mohawk Park)
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.