Shelliscape sizzles in Whenuwishuponastar final
Campbellville, ON --- Shelliscape extended her unbeaten streak to four as she set a new stakes record in the Whenuwishuponastar Stakes final Thursday night at Mohawk.
Driven by Randy Waples, the Artiscape miss was in no hurry in the early going as Big Mcdeal (Scott Zeron) led past the opening quarter in :27.3. My Gal Mattie (Peter Core) was well positioned in the pocket ahead of Shes Astronomical (Sylvain Filion).
Heading towards the mid-way point, Angel Scent (Paul MacDonell) moved to the outside from fourth and took over command past the :56 half.
As the rookie pacers raced into the far turn, post time favorite, Shelliscape angled to the outside from sixth and began the first-over attack. Angel Scent led past three-quarters in 1:25.1 with Shelliscape stalking on the outside and Big Mcdeal looking for racing room from the pocket.
At the top of the stretch, Waples asked his charge for more pace and the Bob McIntosh trainee responded with a 26.3 final quarter to stop the clock in 1:52. Big McDeal finished second with Angel Scent fading to third.
Following the race, Waples was happy to race his filly from off-the-pace.
“There is always a chance you’re going to catch cover,” Waples said. “I didn’t want to get into a speed match with her. I haven’t driven her too fast from the start, because she’s more than capable of coming from behind. I was hoping to get one horse out in front of me, but it didn’t work out that way."
Waples was also quick to comment on the maturity of the young filly, who made her fourth career start.
“She’s very mature and just a pleasure to drive,” he said. “She was well within herself tonight. She does her job and it’s not difficult on me because she comes out of the McIntosh barn and all his horses are just pleasures to drive.”
Shelliscape lifted her lifetime earnings to C$52,000 for McIntosh along with CSX Stables and DM Stables. She paid $3.10 as the bettor's choice.
Peach Martini Captures Single Gold Elimination
With trainer/driver Rick Zeron in the bike, Peach Martini equaled her career best clocking of 1:55 in the single OSS Gold elimination for 3-year-old pacing fillies Thursday night at Mohawk. With the scratch of China Pearls, all 10 contestants advance to next week’s C$130,000 final.
In the early going, Magic Wheel (Joe Hudon) left aggressively from post six to lead past the opening panel in :27.1. Peach Martini was well spotted in the two-hole with Oh Sweet Baby (Mario Baillargeon) in third.
Zeron wasn’t content in the two-hole as he angled Peach Martini out from second and to the front before the half in :57.2. Lukes Sophie (Carl Jamieson) began the first-over attack from fourth with Youlneverwalkalone (Trevor Ritchie) tracking her.
As Peach Martini passed three-quarters in 1:26.2, Lukes Sophie was in contention on the outside with Magic Wheel stalking in the pocket. Down the stretch, Zeron urged on the daughter of Striking Sahbra to score a three-quarter length victory over Magic Wheel and Lukes Sophie.
Owned by Zeron, along with Rojan Stables, Michael Kats and Stephen Waldman, Peach Martini now has career earnings of C$501,927.