Tru Blu Hypnotic and Forefather swept a pair of Pop-Up Series divisions for co-owner Aaron Waxman on Friday night (Sept. 2) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Both pacers won their respective $15,000 divisions with matching 1:50.1 miles.
Trained by Carmen Auciello, even-money favourite Tru Blu Hypnotic ($4.10) sprinted his final quarter in :26.3 to circle the field and take a new lifetime mark with Bob McClure the bike. Going Fast and Illgetmyown Thanks finished 1-1/4 lengths behind in a dead-heat for second. A newcomer to Mohawk last month, the five-year-old Hypnotic Blue Chip gelding (pictured above) is co-owned by Waxman and Frank Cirillo.
Sent off as the 8-5 second choice in rein to James MacDonald, the Duane Marfisi-trained Forefather ($5.20) looped Pointomygranson for the lead past the three-eighths mark in his division and cruised to a 1-1/2-length victory over that rival while Alta Engen A finished back in third. Waxman shares ownership of the four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding with David Jarvis and Gary Volpe.
A pair of Pop-Up Series divisions for female pacers were won by trainer Jonathan Panos' Settn A Precedent (Austin Sorrie, $2.90), with the 2-5 favourite blowing by pacesetter Kickin Cowgirl in 1:52, and the Shawn Steacy trainee Nitelife Seelster (McClure, $2.20), who was three-wide into the first turn before pressing on to take the lead and score in 1:52.3 as the 1-9 bettors choice for owners Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc. and Bertrand Gilhespy Stable.
The series is for non-winners of $30,000 ($35,000 for fillies & mares) in 2022 or not averaging $1,500 per start in 2022 (minimum 12 starts) as of Aug. 30.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.