Elimination Mania At Mohawk

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Published: June 8, 2016 09:00 am EDT

Racing fans will be treated to an incredible weekend of elimination action at Mohawk Racetrack thanks to a smorgasbord of stake events on Friday and Saturday at the Campbellville oval.

The sport’s leading Glamour Boys are set to clash in a set of Pepsi North America Cup eliminations this Saturday evening, but there’s a long list of other stars waiting for their shot at the spotlight.

Here’s what else you can look forward to over the course of the weekend:

FRIDAY

Armbro Flight Eliminations

Shake It Cerry (PP2) totes a bankroll of $2.5 million into the first of two $35,000 Armbro Flight Stake eliminations for older trotting mares. The five-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover, in rein to driver David Miller, made an uncharacteristic break in her latest effort leading to a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Maxie Lee Memorial at Harrah’s Philadelphia. She’s winless in four starts this season, but will look to get out of her funk after going 5-for-16 last year.

Standing in her way could be the tandem of Charmed Life (PP5) and Hannelore Hanover (PP7).

Charmed Life (PP5) – the sport’s newest millionaire - has hit the ticket in all six of this year’s assignments, and her latest outing was her first winning effort of the season for trainer Dave Menary. She stopped the teletimer that night in 1:54.1 for driver Jody Jamieson.

Hannelore Hanover (PP7) started the year a perfect 5-for-5 for trainer Ron Burke, but a complicated trip in her latest outing at Hoosier Park forced her to settle for the runner-up award. She defeated Charmed Life to win the Miami Valley Distaff on May 8 in 1:52.3.

In the second elimination, Elegant Serenity (PP4) will look to build on a solid-looking 2016 debut for trainer/driver Roger Mayotte. The four-year-old daughter of Kadabra fired home in :27.1 to finish a narrowly-beaten third on May 23 for owner/breeder Doug Millard. She went 6-for-12 last season and stashed away more than $425,000 in the process.

Rules Of The Road (PP7) will look to extend her winning streak to three-in-a-row for trainer Chuck Connor, Jr. The daughter of Muscle Hill was a 1:52.1 winner in an overnight event at The Meadowlands on May 20, and she romped to an easy win in 1:53.4 in her follow-up assignment on May 31 at Pocono Downs.

Goodtimes Trot Eliminations

Dayson (PP3) blew away the foes he faced in a NYSS event at Tioga Downs on May 29 for trainer Ron Burke. Jim Morrill, Jr. guided the speedy son of Conway Hall to that victory, but it will be Yannick Gingras hired to sit behind the speedball in the first of two $30,000 eliminations. The gelding is 2-for-3 this year after going 7-for-8 in 2015.

Muscle Hustle (PP4) has yet to taste defeat this year for trainer Per Henriksen, who would love to keep that streak alive with the photogenic performer. Randy Waples will guide the streaking son of Conway Hall.

Marion Marauder (PP1) figures to get a lot of support in the second elimination for trainer Mike Keeling, who reunited the son of Muscle Hill with driver Scott Zeron. The colt was a handy winner in his seasonal debut in 1:55 in an overnight event at Mohawk on June 2. His 1-for-13 rookie campaign saw him bank in excess of $350,000.

Last year’s OSS Super Final champ, Tony Soprano (PP5), makes his 2016 debut for trainer Bob McIntosh. The son of Kadabra miscued in his first qualifier of 2016, but he bounced back for a 1:54.3 score in a prep over the oval on May 23 with Campbell in tow. The sophomore will look to add to his bankroll that stands at $294,214.

SATURDAY

Fan Hanover Eliminations

Pure Country (PP3) was a perfect 10-for-10 as a freshman, but she’s already tasted defeat twice this season for trainer Jimmy Takter and driver Brett Miller. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, who sped to a 1:50.3 win in this year’s rich Miss PA Final, is less than $50,000 away from gaining millionaire status.

This year’s WEG SBOA Stakes champ, Good Will Hanover (PP5), will try to right the ship after making a costly miscue in last weekend’s OSS Gold Series division. Dr. Ian Moore trains the temperamental – yet talented – daughter of Big Jim and Chris Christoforou will be at the lines looking to help her bolster a bankroll that already stands at $263,759.

Darlinonthebeach (PP2), who stepped to a career-best clocking of 1:49.4 in a PASS division at The Meadows on May 27, figures to get the majority of the attention in the second elimination. Nancy Johansson trains the Somebeachsomewhere lass and David Miller will be in the sulky trying to help her add to lifetime earnings that currently stand at $322,218. She’s 4-for-5 this year after going 2-for-10 in last year’s rookie campaign.

O’Brien Award winner L A Delight (PP7) disappointed in the final of the WEG SBOA Stake Final on May 28, but she bounced back to win her OSS Gold Series division at Mohawk on June 4 for trainer Bob McIntosh and driver Randy Waples. The homebred daughter of Bettors Delight is a 13-time winner from just 15 career starts.

Roses Are Red Eliminations

There’s no standout in the first of three eliminations, but local hopeful Waasmula (PP7) should get her fair share of attention for trainer Bruce Goit and driver Trevor Henry. The homebred daughter of Million Dollar Cam, who is a five-time winner this season, blazed over the Mohawk oval earlier this year in 1:49.3.

Yagonnakissmeornot (PP3) has already banked close to $250,000 this year, and she’ll try to add to that in the second elimination for trainer Rene Allard. Jody Jamieson gets the call on the daughter of The Panderosa, who was the runner-up in the 2015 final of this event. Her biggest victory of the season came earlier this spring at Yonkers in the rich final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Final.

Lady Shadow (PP4) is the defending Roses Are Red champ, but she’ll have to break out of a major funk is she wants to haul home the hardware for trainer Ron Adams. Yannick Gingras will drive the career winner of $878,041.

Venus Delight (PP1), fresh off a win in the $200,000 Betsy Ross at Harrah’s Philadelphia, went 8-for-19 last season for trainer Jeff Bamond, Jr. Controversy swirled around the mare in last year’s event when she was first-placed-eighth in her elimination. She’s back this year looking to exact some revenge.

Standing in her way will be the likes of Kate Said (PP2) and Solar Sister (PP6).

Katie Said (PP2) had a three-race winning streak snapped when she was second behind Venus Delight in the Betsy Ross. Jimmy Takter trains the daughter of Well Said, and Brett Miller will sit behind the 17-time winner.

O’Brien Award winner Solar Sister (PP6) will try to add to her $832,528 bankroll for Team McNair. Gregg McNair trains the homebred daughter of Mach Three, who will be driven by Doug McNair. Her lone victory of the season was a 1:51.2 score in the Chip Noble Memorial at Miami Valley Raceway on May 8.

To view the harness racing entries for Friday and Saturday at Mohawk, click one of the following links: Friday Entries – Mohawk Racetrack - Saturday Entries – Mohawk Racetrack.

For a free, printable program for Mohawk’s weekend cards (courtesy of TrackIT), click one of the following links: Friday Program Pages - Mohawk Racetrack - Saturday Program Pages - Mohawk Racetrack.

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