Garry Merner sent out a triad of victors on Thursday (Feb. 15) evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park with Whole Lotta Luck ringing in the evening with the first of the victories in a $17,000 conditioned pace.
Phil Hudon and the Merner student got away fourth through the :28.2 opening panel and then moved second over en route to the half in :57. Always A Catch (Louis-Philippe Roy) cleared the lead and Whole Lotta Luck moved three-wide at the three-quarters in 1:25.2. The filly landed in third through the final turn and used every bit of stretch to overcome the leading Always A Catch. Continuing forward, Whole Lotta Luck went on to win by two lengths in 1:56.2 over Always A Catch. Favoured Jacinda (Jody Jamieson) rounded out the top three.
Whole Lotta Luck is a three-year-old daughter of Luck Be Withyou and the Shadow Play mare Arroya Blue Chip. Owned by Douglas Dunbar, she earned her second career victory in a new career best. Off at 8-1 odds, the filly returned a $17.50 win ticket to her backers.
Merner completed his triactor of training triumphs with Littlebearcat ($18.80), driven to a 2-1/2-length victory in 1:55.2 by Ryan Desroche, and RJs Superfreak ($26.10), driven by Hudon to a 3-1/4-length victory in 1:56.1.
The first division of the Pop Up Series for claiming filly and mare pacers was won by Proud Of My Roots and Trevor Henry for trainer Gerard Demers. Each division in the third leg of the series was worth a $10,000 purse apiece.
Henry and Proud Of My Roots landed in second off the car and into the opening panel in :28.3 before swooping to take over the lead. Setting two more panels in :57.4 and 1:27.4, Proud Of My Roots used a :31.2 final panel to win by three lengths in 1:59.1. Betchuloveme (Tyler Borth) grabbed second and Sound Bite Hanover (Sylvain Filion) completed the triactor.
A five-year-old daughter of Vertical Horizon-Tigra Seelster, Proud Of My Roots is a career winner of $83,196 to go along with a record of 10-11-10 in 59 starts. She returned $4.40 as the bettors' choice.
Greystone Treasure won the second division of the Pop Up Series for fillies and mares with James MacDonald in the bike for Joe Pereira.
The pair got away sixth on the way to the quarter in :28.3 before moving third over en route to the half in :57.1. At the three-quarters in 1:26.4, MacDonald had moved Greystone Treasure three-wide. Rounding for home, Greystone Treasure had clear sights ahead and continued on to win by three lengths in 1:56.4. Bookie Baby (Sylvain Filion) finished second and Outlawskysthelimit (Jody Jamieson) completed the top three.
Greystone Treasure (State Treasurer-Greystone Ladymach) moved her career record to 27-16-15 from 98 trips to the track. The six-year-old mare has a career bankroll of $153,246. She returned $5.60 to win in her first triumph of the year from six starts.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)