The Saturday, December 16 card at Northlands Park featured the third round of the Snowflake Series, for two-year-old filly pacers, and Snowshoe Series, for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
Following two scratches, Ruths Crown Royal wired her two competitors in the lone division of the Snowflake, winning by three-quarters of a length in 2:03.1.
Unchallenged through fractions of :30.4 and 1:01.4, Ruths Crown Royal faced a first-over challenge from even-money favourite True Horizon heading to three-quarters, timed in 1:32.2, but obtained a two-length lead when True Horzion lost stride around the turn. Risque Miss, sitting the pocket, chased the leader late, cutting into her margin but settling for second, and True Horizon was third.
By Jk Royal Flush out of the Bo Knows Jate mare Doctor Ruth, Ruths Crown Royal, owned by Lorne and Linda Duffield and Diane Harries, won her third race in 10 starts, compiling $20,699 in earnings. Trained by Rodney Hennessy and driven by Michael Hennessy, she paid $4.00 to win.
Public-choice Yankee Up sat the pocket before taking control in the stretch, winning the single division of the Snowshoe Series in 1:58.2.
Mortgage My Villa took the front, leading to the quarter in :29.3 before being pressured by President Elect from first over. Enduring the challenge through splits of :59.4 and 1:28.3, President Elect retreated around the final turn, and was circumvented from second over by Shaker Tank closing into the mix. Mortgage My Villa faltered through the stretch, with Yankee Up moving to the lead from the pocket and holding off Shaker Tank by two-and-a-quarter lengths, with Mortgage My Villa another three lengths back in third.
Owned by trainer-driver Jamie Gray and James Rhodes, Yankee Up, a gelding by Vertical Horzion out of the Artiscape mare Nice Yankee, won his third race in six starts, earning $11,796. He paid $5.30 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northlands Park.