The stage is set for the $374,000 Peaceful Way Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies following Thursday evening’s trio of break-filled eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack.
The top three finishers from each elimination, plus one fourth-place finisher drawn by lot, earned the right to advance to the rich final. As an added bonus, elimination winner got to pick their posts for the final.
Grammas Girl pulled off a shocking upset in her $30,000 elimination, but she had a little help from some high profile foes making uncharacteristic breaks. Shake It Cerry, who was sent off as the 1-9 favourite, rushed to the lead and threw down a :28.1 opening quarter. She strolled past the half in 1:00 and started to accelerate around the final turn before self destructing.
Serendipitious inherited the lead around the turn and she lead her foes to the three-quarter pole in 1:30 before being overtaken by Grammas Girl in the lane. Grammas Girl then used a :28-second closing quarter to win by a half-length margin over the late-closing Game On Hanover. Riveting Rosie, who made a break just before the quarter pole, rallied to finish third. Serendipitious, who was fourth, also advanced to the final.
“We got some really good fortune,” said Waples following the win. “We had a good post, she got away good then Riveting Rosie made a break then Pierce’s filly (Shake It Cerry). That completely changed the outcome and we were only at three-quarters in 1:30, so that turned into a sprint and she’s got a good spring to her.”
Brad Maxwell trains the daughter of Donato Hanover-Gramolas Image for Doug Millard of Woodstock and P G Van Camp Stables of Port Perry, ON. Sent off at odds of 35-1, Grammas Girl won for the first time in four tries. The $35,000 purchase from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale has banked just shy of $20,000.
Race favourite I Jasmin kicked off cover to win the second elimination for the father/son duo of trainer Rick Zeron and driver Scott Zeron. The daughter of Muscle Mass-Orillia Seelster got away sixth in the seven-filly affair, while Margie shot to the front and supplied splits of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:28.1. I Jasmin, who was still sixth heading into the closing quarter, accelerated off the helmet she was tracking as the field entered the lane and she uncorked a :27.4 closing panel and drew clear to win by a length over Reflection Hanover in 1:57.1. White Becomes Her was third.
“She’s pretty versatile and I could have just easily spoken to her to leave, but I wanted to take my time,” Zeron said following the win. “I got to watch her last week when she got locked in and she was climbing over them at the wire in a (1):56 mile, so tonight wasn’t too tough on her.”
Ming Siu of Richmond, BC bred and owns the youngster who also celebrated a maiden-breaking win. She boasts a 1-0-1 record from four trips to the track in addition to a bankroll that sits at $30,863.
Danica Hall found her way to victory lane for the third time in her career thanks to her 1:57.3 triumph in the final elimination. Trevor Ritchie hustled his charge to the lead from Post 5 and after parking past the quarter pole in :28.3 she crossed down to the rail before coming under pressure from race favourite Demanding Sam. The public’s top choice cleared without a tussle and took the field to the half in :58.1. Danica Hall was out and driving around the final turn, and she poked a head in front of Demanding Sam at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.4. Danica Hall then used a :28.4 kicker to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Scream And Shout. Demanding Sam was third, but she was placed sixth for causing interference in the stretch. Toughs Legacy was fourth-placed-third.
“She was just as impressive tonight as she was last week in the Champlain,” Ritchie said following the win. “She’s two fingers to drive and there’s really nothing not to like about her. She’s really progressed since I first baby raced her.”
Doug McIntosh trains the homebred for Walnut Hall Limited of Lexington, KY. The daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe-Debbie Hall improved her record to 3-0-2 from six trips postward, and the lion’s share of the $30,000 purse boosted her earnings to $108,923.
The Peaceful Way final goes Saturday, September 14 at Mohawk Racetrack. Here’s how the field will line up behind the starting gate:
$374,000 Peaceful Way Final
1. Game On Hanover
2. I Jasmin
3. Danica Hall
4. Grammas Girl
5. Riveting Rosie
6. Reflection Hanover
7. Scream And Shout
8. Serendipitious
9. Toughs Legacy
10. White Becomes Her
(With quotes from WEG)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.