A bulky field of sophomore trotting fillies squared off in a single division of the Simcoe Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening, and when the dust settled it was Costa Rica who came out on top
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The diminutive daughter of Muscles Yankee-Experiment, in rein to driver Ron Pierce, fended off a late rush from Bramalea Hanover (Steve Condren) to win the $239,786 affair in a career-best clocking of 1:54.3.
Pierce let Costa Rica settle into the four hole at the quarter pole while Poof Shes Gone (David Miller) and Wilsonator (Sylvain Filion) battled by that juncture in :26.4. Race favourite Cross Of Lorraine (Mark MacDonald) went out of contention early as a result of a break in stride going into the opening turn. Pierce and Costa Rica popped off the rail when the field hit the backstretch, and she applied mild pressure on Poof Shes Gone at the mid-way point in :56.4.
Poof Shes Gone was still in command of the tempo at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3, but Costa Rica was knocking on the door from first over. Poof Shes Gone was out of gas at the head of the head of the lane, and she was quickly overtaken by Costa Rica who then used a :28.4 final frame to fend off Bramalea Hanover by a half-length margin. Wilsonator reemerged to finish third.
“The fractions worked out in our favour,” said driver Ron Pierce. “I was a little concerned with Stevie on the outside of me in the first turn, and then he backed up and decided to follow me. Once I got on the outside everything was fine. My filly felt real good and I could see that Dave’s filly wasn’t as sharp as she normally is, so I just sat her out there first up and when I called on her she had plenty of git.
“She’s just all heart this filly,” Pierce added. “If you look at her there’s nothing special about the way she looks; she’s bred well and she’s all heart. She just digs in every race and gives 110%. That’s why she’s made so much money.”
Jimmy Takter conditions the career winner of $1,227,522 for Christina Takter of East Windsor, NJ along with John and Jim Fielding of Toronto, ON. She improved her 2010 record to 4-1-1 in nine starts with the win.
To view Monday’s results, click here.