Ideal Weather had to do it the hard way first-over, but she got the job done for driver Sylvain Filion in the $42,000 Mares Open Pace on Friday at Mohawk Racetrack.
With Post 3, the five-year-old Western Ideal mare took an early seat in fifth for Filion, sitting patiently as Marnie Hall (Luc Ouellette) set a first quarter in :26.4. Ideal Weather started the outside flow on the way to the :54.3 half and began closing in on the leader around the final turn.
When the field hit the 1:23 three-quarters, Marnie Hall’s lead had shrunk to just a length as Ideal Weather was now up to her wheel and continuing to make strides on the outside. Marnie Hall and Ideal Weather engaged in a fierce deep stretch battle, but it was Ideal Weather that survived in the end, winning by a neck in 1:50.3.
Illusionist (Randy Waples) closed hard on the end to get third while Pink Kangaroo (Steve Condren) paced strongly to grab fourth on the very outside.
Richard Moreau trains Ideal Weather in Canada for the partnership of Sylvia Burke, Lawrence Karr and Thomas Cherichello. In 23 seasonal starts, the Mohawk track record co-holder is 3-3-3 with earnings of $209,617. Winning for the 20th time in her career, she now boasts a bankroll of $779,949.
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