A power outage curtailed Mohawk Racetrack’s Tuesday evening program, but before the Campbellville oval cancelled its last two races the freshman trotting fillies lit up the racing surface in a trio of $70,000 Gold divisions.
On A Sunny Day took over sole control of the division point standings with an impressive effort in the first contest. The Muscle Mass daughter and driver Sylvain Filion powered away from Post 5 and led the field through fractions of :28.1, :59 and 1:28.1 before accelerating down the stretch to a 1:55.4 victory. Magic Presto closed well to finish one and one-half lengths back in second and Sweet Of My Heart rounded out the top three.
“She raced super good tonight. Last time I raced her I was a little worried because she was really hot behind the gate. Tonight she was way better,” said Milton resident Filion. “I was hoping to get a two-hole trip in behind Paul (MacDonell and Stuck In My Spanks), and then he went off stride so I didn’t have much choice but to keep on going, but she was more relaxed this week and my god she was strong at the wire.”
Filion drives the talented On A Sunny Day for trainer-breeder Luc Blais of Lochaber Ouest, QC and owner Determination of Montreal, QC. Tuesday’s mile was a personal best for the winner of $105,000 who also captured her Gold Series divisions at Georgian Downs on July 5 and Mohawk on July 19, giving her a perfect 150 points and top spot in the division standings.
“Luc did a great job with her because I told him, I said, �I’m a little afraid she’s getting a little too hot,’ and he said, �I’m going to work on it,'” Filion continued. “I don’t know what he did, but it really worked. You have to give credit to Luc.”
The second division saw Janderson bounce back from a break in the July 19 event to deliver a solid come-from-behind effort from Post 7 for driver Paul MacDonell. The filly reeled in pacesetter and two-time Gold winner Winter Sweet Frost in the stretch, hitting the wire in a personal best 1:57.3. Fan favourite Winter Sweet Frost settled for second and Majestic Kat finished third.
“I thought she went a real gritty race, coming from off the pace with no cover,” said Guelph resident MacDonell. “She’s progressing nicely.”
Cambridge resident Mike Keeling trains Janderson for Dr. Roly Armitage of Dunrobin and James Armitage of Carp, ON. The Armitage’s purchased the daughter of Muscle Mass and Gracious Marla from the 2015 Canadian Yearling Sale for a modest $14,000 and have already recouped $70,000 from the filly’s victory on Tuesday and in the July 5 season opener.
Filion, Blais and Determination teamed up for a second victory in the last Gold division, with $870,153 winner Prestidigitator’s full-sister Gravitator. Starting from Post 5, Filion settled the daughter of Kadabra and Shesa Priority in third as Expose Yourself and Anikadabra battled to a :28 opening quarter under rapidly darkening skies.
Before Anikadabra could get comfortable on the front end, Filion sent Gravitator forward and the filly reached the half in :58.1. Comfortably on top at the 1:27.4 three-quarters, Gravitator pulled away to a three length victory in 1:57.2. Holiday Promise circled around to be second and pocket-sitter Anikadabra took third.
“They found out after the last race she was a little sick, and she was much stronger tonight, and she felt super good,” said Filion. “My only scary moment was near the half-mile when she saw the tote board. There were no lights, so the tote board a was a little bit brighter, she kind of perked her ears and looked at it for a little while, so that was my only scary moment with her, she did the rest like a very good horse.”
Following the third Gold division, the eighth of 10 scheduled races, Mohawk officials called a halt to the program and Filion was in full agreement with the decision.
“In the race actually it wasn’t so bad, but it was getting darker and darker,” said the reinsman. “I think they made the right decision to quit right after that race, for safety reasons.”
Tuesday’s victory was Gravitator’s first after she finished third in the season opener and second in the July 19 contest. The filly, who has banked $60,900 in her three outings, was an $80,000 purchase from the Harrisburg Yearling Sale last fall.
“I’m just so happy that this owner, Serge Godin (of Determination), gets to win some races, because he puts in a lot of money and he deserves some wins,” added Filion. “And once again, I want to give credit to Luc.”
Blais’ powerful entry and their two-year-old trotting filly peers will make their fourth Gold Series start at Grand River Raceway on August 10.
Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Mohawk Racetrack on Friday, Aug. 5 with five $18,000 Grassroots divisions for the three-year-old pacing fillies. The fillies will kick things off at 7:30 pm in the first race and also battle in Races 5, 7, 9, and 11.
For complete results please visit Mohawk Racetrack Results — Tuesday, August 2, 2016