A blockbuster weekend of racing is fast approaching at Mohawk Racetrack, and while all eyes will be on Saturday’s trio of eliminations for the Pepsi North America Cup – they won’t be the only races worth watching.
A stakes-filled weekend will see many of the sport’s brightest stars also be in action in eliminations for the Armbro Flight, Goodtimes, Fan Hanover and the Roses Are Red Stakes.
Those elimination will take place on the Friday and Saturday cards at Mohawk Racetrack, and we’ve previewed those elims below:
Friday – Armbro Flight Elim #1 – Race 2
Perfect Alliance, who was last seen establishing a world record for four-year-old trotting mares when she blazed to a 1:51.2 victory in her division of the Miss Versatility Series at Woodbine Racetrack, headlines her $35,000 assignment for trainer Julie Miller. The daughter of Credit Winner-Yalta Hanover, who is a perfect 10-for-10 this season, will be handled from Post 7 by Yannick Gingras.
Friday – Armbro Flight Elim #2 – Race 3
The multiple award-winning Bee A Magician will take on five other foes in the second elimination for the tandem of driver Brian Sears and trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman. The four-year-old daughter of Kadabra-Beehive finished second to Perfect Alliance in her world record performance in the Miss Versatility Series at Woodbine Racetrack on May 19. That was the first start of the season for the 27-time winner who starts from Post 1. One of her biggest challengers figures to be Classic Martine - a recent divisional winner in the Miss Versatility Series.
Friday – Goodtimes Elim #1 – Race 5
Flyhawk El Durado is the big money winner in the first elimination, and he’ll look to add to his $340,561 bankroll for trainer Jeff Gillis. The three-year-old son of Conway Hall-El Paso Gal, who starts from Post 5, enters the assignment following a 1:55.1 score in NYSS action at Tioga Downs on May 23. He’ll take on recent OSS Gold Series winners Massive Talent and Hitchin A Ride in addition to this year’s Tie Silk Series champion, So Not Cool.
Friday – Goodtimes Elim #2 – Race 8
Trixton has steamrolled to three consecutive wins at The Meadowlands for trainer/driver Jimmy Takter, and the three-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Emilie Cas El figures to get loads of pari-mutuel support in his elimination. The colt, who will start from Post 5, blew away the foes he faced in his latest outing – the $100,000 NJSS Final.
The Mark Steacy-trained Harper Blue Chip makes his 2014 debut following a 4-for-8 rookie season that saw him bank just shy of $200,000. The runner-up in last year’s William Wellwood Memorial Trot has drawn Post 9.
Saturday – Fan Hanover Elim #1 – Race 1
Uffizi Hanover enters the first elimination for three-year-old pacing fillies with the biggest bankroll ($363,125), but by no means is she a slam dunk for trainer Jimmy Takter and driver David Miller. The daughter of Well Said-Up Front Dragonfly will square off with the likes of stakes winner Beach Gal and the speedy Nat A Virgin, who set a national season’s record of 1:50.3 in her May 30 assignment at Mohawk Racetrack.
Saturday – Fan Hanover Elim #2 – Race 2
O’Brien Award winner Precocious Beauty makes her first start of the season on Canadian soil for Team McNair after winning her 2014 debut in a NYSS division at Vernon Downs on May 30. The three-year-old daughter of Art Major-Precocious Beauty went 7-for-11 last year and banked in excess of $460,000 for owner James Avritt of Lebanon, Kentucky. She’ll take on a number of speedsters including Major Dancer and stablemate Lady Shadow.
Saturday – Roses Are Red Elim #1 – Race 8
Multiple O’Brien Award winner Anndrovette will begin her quest for a third straight Roses Are Red title when she takes on six foes in the first of two eliminations. Tim Tetrick will drive the P. J. Fraley trainee who starts from Post 1. The 37-time winner has managed to stash away earnings in excess of $2.7 million to date.
Saturday – Roses Are Red Elim #2 – Race 11
Somwherovrarainbow, fresh off her dazzling win in 1:48 at Pocono Downs in an overnight event, will clash with six talented distaffers in the second elimination. Joe Holloway trains the four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Rainbow Blue, and Brian Sears will do the driving from Post 3. The regally-bred pacing lass will square off with no fewer than five millionairesses in the $35,000 affair.