Chancey Lady Gets Mohawk Distaff in Late Close
Clerk Magistrate Trots to Goodtimes Title Filly Lantern Kronos Wins
While Somebeachsomewhere dominated the main event in the Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Raceway in Ontario, Canada, Chancey Lady won the distaff counterpart pacing title and Clerk Magistrate and filly Lantern Kronos checked in with trotting wins in the Goodtimes Stakes and the Elegantimage Stakes, respectively.
Chancey Lady Beats Tug River Princess
Tug River Princess suurendered her perfect 13 for 13 career race record to Chancey Lady in the Fan Hanover Stakes, the $733,031 event that is the 3-year-old filly pacing counterpart to the boys' North America Cup, Canada's richest harness race.
The undefeated Tug River Princess took her first career loss in a race that saw her finish third, 1-1/4 lengths off the pace of winner Chancey Lady.
Chancey Lady stalked from third position early on, following the pacesetting fractions of A and Gs Confusion -- 56-4/5 and 1:23-4/5. Her late rush earned her a head win over Artimittateslife, who entered with an 11-1 record.
The winning time off the leisurely fractions was 1:51-1/5. Driver Mark MacDonald praised Chancey Lady's rushing finish, saying, "She's got a great kick to her...(that) just puts them away."
Clerk Magistrate Headed to Hambletonian
The Mohawk North America Cup undercard included a 3-year-old male trot and a 3-year-old female trot, the $279,786 Goodtimes Stakes and the Elegantimage Stakes, respectively.
Per Henriksen, owner-trainer of Clerk Magistrate, says his horse is headed to the Hambletonian, a premier trotting event for the harness racing boys. Henriksen said he thinks "the best of him" is still in the wings.
Clerk Magistrate raced 3/4 in 1:25 in the Goodtimes as he stayed on the lead at the outside with B Strike Three. In the stretch, he drew away by 4-1/2 lengths over Guida Muscle, who broke stride and was placed fifth.
Trevor Ritchie, Clerk Magistrate's driver, said he thinks the horse should rate at the top of his class after his last two races.
Lantern Kronos Wins Elegantimage Stakes
The $588,706 Elegantimage Stakes for 3-year-old fillies was covered in 1:54-3/5. Driver Paul MacDonell, who also guided Somebeachsomewhere to the 3-year-old boys' Cup title, moved Lantern Kronos to the third position off the pace by 3 lengths.
When the fillies came around the far turn, Lantern Kronos responded well to MacDonell's urging, moving up to the lead and easily opening a 3-3/4 lengths advantage past Warrawee June. The favorite, Lantern Kronos held on to her front spot as Warrawee June put in a final rally that fell short.
Lantern Kronos' final margin of victory was 1-3/4 lengths. Back another 1-1/2 lengths, Saorse, the race's second favoirte, came in third.
