Richard Moreau trainee American History found success with new tactics to score in the $35,000 Preferred 2 Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night (May 13).
Driver Trevor Henry hustled the eight-year-old American Ideal stallion and settled for the pocket to Momas Son Byrne by a :26.1 first quarter. Momas Son Byrne, meanwhile, kept the iron hot to a :53.3 half and sizzled past three-quarters in 1:21 but had American History chomping to challenge in the lane. American History plugged forward and downed Momas Son Byrne by a half length to post a 1:48.2 mile, the fastest on a seven-eighths track in Canada this so far this season. Century Heineken finished third and Codename Cigar Box took fourth.
Brad Grant owns American History, who won his 39th race from 125 starts and has now earned $1,651,445. He paid $10.80 to win. The mile time also matches South Beach Star's effort from May 7 at Pocono as the fastest in North America this year.
In the co-featured $30,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace, Dabarndawgswatchin landed a repeat win as the favourite in 1:50.
Starting from the outermost post in the field of seven, driver Louis-Philippe Roy rolled Dabarndawgswatchin to the top through a :27 first quarter to clear Gias Surreal and carried that momentum through the mile. The Dave Menary pupil posted middle splits of :54.3 and 1:21.4 to seal to job by two lengths at the finish with Gias Surreal finishing second. Parisian Blue Chip rallied from off the speed to take third and Raptors Won took fourth.
Dabarndawgswatchin is a five-year-old homebred for Julie Ferguson and Lloyd Stone. She won her 17th race from 69 starts and has now earned $499,954. She paid $4.10 to win.
Climb The Pole claimed victory in the opening race on the card, an event for three-year-old trotting fillies eligible to the SBOA Stakes final next week. Jody Jamieson took the lead with the Amanda Fine trainee after a :28.1 first quarter and withstood a far-turn challenge from pocket-sitter Muscling Vegas to win by a length in 1:55.3. Odds-on favourite HP Extra Ice closed to take second from Muscling Vegas in third and Shiny New Penny finished fourth.
Amanda Fine co-owns Climb The Pole, a daughter of Kadabra, with Steve Heimbecker. The win was the third from five starts for the earner of $39,110. She paid $15.90 to win.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.