Royal Cee Cee N now boasts wins in three different countries thanks to her top notch 1:49.3 effort in the $35,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday night
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Speeding off the gate in the second race, divisional track record co-holder Sweet Hedge (Luc Ouellette) took control of the field from the third post position and carved out early fractions of :27 and :55.
Even-money favourite Royal Cee Cee N and driver Brian Sears were the first to make a move as they angled off the pylons from fourth heading to three-quarters in 1:22.1.
Sweet Hedge was put to the test down the stretch with Catch A Dragon (Tim Tetrick) pulling the pocket, Royal Cee Cee N rallying wide and 35-1 longshot Seriously (Scott Zeron) gaining ground at the rail.
Sprinting home in :26.2, Royal Cee Cee N swept past her foes to win in 1:49.3, equalling her lifetime mark and coming within two-fifths of a second of the mares track record. Sweet Hedge and Catch A Dragon finished second in a dead-heat. Seriously came in two and a half lengths behind.
Royal Cee Cee N, trained by Rod Boyd, paid $4.20 to win.
After starting her career in New Zealand with three wins in nine starts and earning nearly $50,000, Royal Cee Cee N was imported to the U.S. by trainer and owner Mark Harder at the beginning of 2011. The five-year-old mare, who strung together a six-race win streak at Harrah’s Chester this spring, made her first start on Canadian soil in the A Spring Of Hope Invitational Pace last weekend. Her first Canadian win tonight was her 10th of the season in 16 starts, and pushed her North American earnings to $260,425.
Royal Cee Cee N is a daughter of New Zealand super sire Christian Cullen, whose first North American crop will debut next year, and Royal Van.
For results from Friday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.