Driver Lyle MacArthur took a 'take no prisoners' approach in Friday's $42,572 Breeders Crown Open Mares Pace Elimination at Mohawk Racetrack with Southwind Madonna and that strategy resulted in a 1:49.3 track record tying performance.
Starting from Post 6, the five-year-old Camluck mare fired to the front in :26.1, stacking Darlins Delight (Yannick Gingras) and Hana Hanover (Randy Waples) into second and third, respectively.
The 2008 Roses Are Red champ Tidewaterdragonfly (Paul MacDonell) began the outside flow on the way to the :55.4 half, but she was unable to get within a length of Southwind Madonna, who tripped the third beam in 1:23.
Southwind Madonna - Aged Pacing Mares
Down the lane, Darlins Delight looked for an opening along the rail, but she could find no room as Southwind Madonna paced strongly through the wire for MacArthur, winning by a length and a half. Darlins Delight was second best and Hana Hanover was third.
Following the 1:49.3 mile, Southwind Madonna joins Rons Girl, Moving Pictures, Ideal Weather, and Four Starzz Meliss in the track record books.
"In her last two starts, she has been really, really good. She had a little bump in the road a couple starts ago, she still raced good, but finished third and second. She had a bit of a viral bug, but is better now," said MacArthur. "Dad [Carl MacArthur] trains her up a little more for a bigger race; he knows what he is doing. For my Dad, it was an easy decision [to supplement]. He said 'let's take our shot and see what happens'. She doesn't have to be on the front, but she likes racing up near the front."
The connections of Southwind Madonna supplemented her for $37,500 (US) and now they have their chance to pick their post position for next Saturday's $352,815 final. The top eight finishers will join My Little Dragon and Ideal Weather, who both received byes for the final.
Southwind Madonna ($9.00) is trained by co-owner Carl MacArthur, who shares partnership with Talacadac Stable. It was the second straight win for the mare and the ninth in 2008. The OSS graduate has 21 lifetime victories and earnings of $804,871.
BC Mare Pace Final
1. Double Dream N
2. Southwind Madonna
3. Tidewaterdragonfly
4. To Helen Back
5. My Little Dragon
6. Hana Hanover
7. Darlins Delight
8. Go On BB
9. Illusionist
10. Ideal Weather
To view Mohawk's results, click here.