Though open to three- and four-year-old ladies (non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1st), no ‘youngsters’ qualified for the finale.
Away fifth from post position No. 5, Catch An Ace and driver Jason Bartlett watched as outside numbers Cabowabocutie (Jordan Stratton) and Ghosttothepost (Yannick Gingras) both left hard.
The pair looped 9-5 favourite Robyn Camden (Dexter Dunn), who was hung up three-wide early (outside the eventual winner) before settling in sixth. Cabowabocutie seated Ghosttothepost, then led through intervals of :28 and :58.1.
Odds On Ashley (Matt Kakaley) was the first to take the bait, moving from third. She towed Ella Is Awesome (Joe Bongiorno) and Catch An Ace, while the hellish trip of Robyn Camden saw her fourth-over.
Cabowabocutie maintained her lead in and out of a 1:26.4 three-quarters, about the time Catch An Ace went three-deep around Ella is Awesome.
The lead remained unchanged off the final turn, with Cabowabocutie owning a length-and-three-quarter advantage. The lass would give way—grudgingly—in the scrum to the line. Catch An Ace picked off a stubborn Odds On Ashley by a head, with Robyn Camden widest of all, the circuitous route ending with her finishing third, beaten just a neck.
Cabowabocutie and Ghosttothepost rounded out the payees....the first four finishers separated by that neck, while the quintet of payees was divided by a length-and-three-quarters.
Ella Is Awesome, Bye Hanover (George Brennan) Parkin In Heaven (Tyler Buter) completed the order.
“I thought I was in a bad spot,” Bartlett said. “Fortunately, they came back to us.
“I mean, she can leave, but I did not want cut the mile. She needs a helmet to chase. I figured we were going to win by a bit more, but she started running out in the lane. I was wondering what was going on, but she found the line.”
For second choice Catch An Ace, a four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight owned by Jeffrey Williamson and trained by Andrew Harris, it was her fifth win in nine seasonal starts (career 14-for-26, $135,094). She paid $6.00 to win.
Owner and trainer combined (with driver Stratton) to sweep the 2017 Petticoat with Cousin Mary.
A $30,000 series consolation was an 11-3/4 length route by odds-on Shes Pukka N (Mark MacDonald, $2.70) in a life-best 1:54.1.
Tuesday night offers the $60,200 tribute to Teddy Roosevelt affectionately known as the final of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series.