A pair of eye-catching performances by last year's Breeders Crown champion trotting mares Frenchfrysnvinegar and Cedar Dove in $30,000 first leg divisions of the Miss Versatility Series highlighted Mohawk Racetrack's nine-race Sunday card of harness racing on Family Fun and Fireworks Night.
Canada's reigning Older Trotting Mare of the Year Frenchfrysnvinegar held off the pocket-pulling Jezzy to win the first split in 1:52.2, just two-fifths of a second off Buck I St Pat's divisional track record.
With Jody Jamieson in the sulky, Frenchfrysnvinegar fired off the gate from the outermost post eight to establish the lead ahead of Jezzy and trainer-driver Ray Schnittker. Meanwhile, 4-5 favourite Beatgoeson Hanover and David Miller were parked out early on, but found a spot at the pylons in fourth.
Frenchfrysnvinegar sped past the opening quarter in :26.3 before taking a middle panel breather. She reached the half in :56, followed by the three-quarters in 1:24.4 while Beatgoeson Hanover moved underway with Pembroke Heat Wave and Doug McNair on her back.
Frenchfrysnvinegar spun into the stretch with Jezzy pulling the pocket, but the pacesetter managed to hold on for the half-length triumph. Sugar Queen Gabby and Sylvain Filion finished two lengths behind in third off a three-hole trip. Pembroke Heat Wave was fourth and the O'Brien Award winning China Pearls, driven by Randy Waples, closing well for the final paycheque in her aged debut.
Rockwood's David Smith owns the winning Angus Hall-Gugus mare while Jeff Gillis handles the training duties. She paid $14.20 to win as the 6-1 third choice.
The season-debuting Cedar Dove sprinted home off easy fractions to capture the second division of the Miss Versatility in 1:55 flat.
With trainer Michael Vanderkemp aboard, Cedar Dove also fired across the track from her outside post eight starting position to establish the early lead. She reached the opening quarter mark in :27.4 and carved out middle fractions of :58 and 1:27 with Action Broadway and Doug McNair advancing first up from fourth and the popular Steve Condren-driven Cameron Chip following their cover.
Cedar Dove was still a length clear on top by the third quarter mark, but with pressure mounting around the turn, she kicked away to a three length tally. Cameron Chip rallied off cover to place while early trailer Cleopatre Duharas and Scott Zeron came on for third. Oh Sweet Baby finished fourth in her aged debut for driver Mario Baillargeon while Mymomsablizzard and David Miller finished fifth.
Cedar Dove paid $9.60 to win as the 7-2 third choice. The four-year-old Andover Hall-Pine For Her miss is owned by Adam Victor And Son Stable of New York and Toronto's John Fielding.
The Miss Versatility Series for female trotters three years old and up will continue on July 1 at Mohawk, followed by a leg on August 17 at Meadowlands Racetrack and another on August 26 at Tioga Downs. The $100,000 (est.) final will be contested on Little Brown Jug Day, September 20 at the Delaware Ohio County Fair.