Warrawee Vital wasn't a factor in his Canadian Pacing Deby elimination one week ago, but the six-year-old was in fine form facing nine rivals in a $75,000 Free For All Pace on the Canadian Pacing Derby undercard at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, Sept. 2.
Trevor Henry floated Warrawee Vital away from post eight, but then engaged his horse in some forward thinking between favoured Taurasi (Todd McCarthy) and Covered Bridge (Yannick Gingras). Those three speedsters forged forward, with Covered Bridge clearing the top over Powertrain (Louis-Philippe Roy) through a :26.1 opening panel. Warrawee Vital then muscled his way to command and faced off against Taurasi, not letting him clear.
Those two older warriors proceeded to throw down a :53.1 half and 1:19.4 third panel. Taurasi managed to get ahead of Warrawee Vital around the far turn for a few strides, but straightening for home he was unable to maintain that momentum.
As Taurasi started to back through the pack, pocket-sitter Covered Bridge darted to Warrawee Vital's inside for a late rally. But Warrawee Vital seemingly took offense to his 13-1 post time odds and after that tough trip started to pull away from the fresh threat in the pocket. He hit the wire in 1:47.4, three lengths better than Powertrain with Covered Bridge third.
Warrawee Vital (Captaintreacherous - Great Memories) is trained by Kyle Fellows for Yolanda Fellows and M&S Racing Stable Inc. of Rockwood, Ont. That win was the 23rd of his career and lifted his earnings to $739,661 lifetime. A $2 win ticket on Warrawee Vital returned $29.80.
To view the results from the Saturday card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.