Daughters of Shadow Play captured both $105,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies tonight at Mohawk.
It was a wire to wire performance by Lady Shadow in the first split as Doug McNair had that Shadow Play filly on top well before the :26.2 opening quarter and dictated the tempo the rest of the way. They hit the middle panels in :55 and 1:23.4 and were home first in 1:50.4.
Mike Saftic had Sectionline Aqua on the outside challenging which effectively cut off My Secret Belle who was trapped behind the leader on the inside for trainer/driver Joe Hudon with tons of pace and nowhere to go. Sectionline Aqua (Major In Art) took second while My Secret Belle (Mach Three) had to be content with third.
A very consistent performer this year, Lady Shadow improved her summary to 5-2-0 in 10 starts and upped her bankroll to $258,205 for owners Lindsey and Connie Rankin of Lexington, Michigan.
Bred by Winbak Farm, Lady Shadow’s dam is the $200,000 winning Camluck mare Lady Camella. Lady Shadow is a half-sister to Lady Meghan O ($465,000).
Village Jessica was the early leader in the second test, hitting the opening marker in :26.1. She was covered up by heavy favourite Skippin By well before the half in :54.3 for Randy Waples. That filly rolled by the three-quarters in 1:23 and opened up down the lane to win well in hand in 1:50.2. The time was just a tick off the all time OSS record for this division held by Michelles Power.
Alibi Seelster (Shadow Play) closed well to finish second while Jakardez (Artistic Fella) was third.
It was the fourth win in 12 2014 starts for Skippin By, a Shadow Play daughter owned by Wall Bros Stable and Bruce Soulsby of Ohio. Her dam is a half-sister to $1.3 million winner Metropolitan.
These girls have one more Gold event on their dance card before the October 11 Super Final. This takes place September 28 at Flamboro Downs.
Monday’s program also saw the OSS graduate, Daylon Magician, register an impressive win in the $34,000 Preferred Trot.
Trained and driven by Jack Moiseyev, the six-year-old son of Kadabra-Daylon Marvel enjoyed a two-hole trip to the quarter pole before brushing to the front in the backstretch. He led the group past the half in :56.4 and the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1 before tacking on a :27.4 closing panel en route to winning by half a length over Northern Victory in 1:53. Race favourite Swan In A Million was third.
Daylon Farms Ltd of Komoka, Ontario bred and owns the 23-time winner who has manufactured a 5-2-3 record from 18 trips to the track this season. He’s banked just shy of $100,000 this season and more than $1.7 million to date.
(With files from OSS)
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.