by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Pacing fillies and mares did their best to shine on Saturday’s (June 10) Pepsi North America Cup elimination card in the eliminations of the Roses Are Red and Fan Hanover stakes. A group of 23 older pacing mares were split into three $C35,000 eliminations for the Roses Are Red, while 19 sophomore pacing fillies competed in two C$35,000 Fan Hanover divisions. The top three finishers, plus a fourth-place finishers, gained access to the Roses Are Red final.

Frost Damage Blues wins her Roses Are Red elimination for her 14th career victory.

Frost Damage Blues came through at 6-1 to win a highly competitive opening elimination of the Roses Are Red. Driver James MacDonald steered the Tom Fanning trainee to victory in 1:50.1. Frost Damage Blues got away sixth and sat in that position for the opening half-mile. Blue Moon Stride made a move to the lead at the opening quarter in :26.2. The lead was short-lived, as Darlinonthebeach rushed up to grab the front and reach the half in :54.1.

MacDonald was able to work out a second-over trip on the far turn for Frost Damage Blues, while Darlinonthebeach reached three-quarters in 1:21.4. In the stretch, Frost Damage Blues shot off cover and charged up to pick up her second win of the season. Pure Country followed the winner on the far turn and finished a 1-1/4 lengths back in second. Witch Dali shot up the pylons from seventh to grab third, while Bernadette was fourth.

A 5-year-old daughter of Western Ideal, Frost Damage Blues has made a few trips to Mohawk during her racing career and was familiar with having MacDonald in the bike.

“I drove her last year in the Milton elimination and she really impressed me…I loved her last year and was just hoping I would get a chance to get a crack at her again,” said MacDonald. “I knew the short field would suit her well and I was just hoping I could get a second or third-over trip and make the final, anything after that was bonus.”

Frost Damage Blues is now two-for-four this season, which brings her to 14 career victories and earnings of over C$191,000 for owner Bill Augustine. She paid $15.60 to win.

Nike Franco N delivered a strong 1:49.2 performance to win the second elimination. The Joann Looney King trainee made a second-quarter brush to the lead from third for driver Tim Tetrick and never looked back. Nike Franco N took over the lead from Call Me Queen Be and went onto post fractions of :54.3 and 1:22.2, before a :27 kicker to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Call Me Queen Be finished second, while Penpal came through for third.

A 7-year-old daughter of Mcardle, Nike Franco N was bred in New Zealand and came over from Australia last fall after being purchased by Richard Poillucci.

“She felt really good, that was kind of the first time I ever raced her that way,” said Tetrick post-race. “She moved right onto the front and relaxed good and when somebody come she swelled right up.”

Nike Franco N tallied her third win in six outings this season with her 1:49.2 score and increased her 2017 earnings to C$92,500. The mare from Down Under now has 25 career victories to go with her bankroll of over C$450,000. Nike Franco N returned $3.70 to win.

New Image Media photos

Lady Shadow remains undefeated in 2017 after winning her Roses Are Red elimination.

The final elimination saw defending champion Lady Shadow find the winner’s circle. The Ron Adams trainee came up to attack the leader Prairie Sweetheart on the far turn to make the winning move. Lady Shadow charged home in :27.2 to score the victory by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.2. Wrangler Magic finished second, while Prairie Sweetheart held on for third.

A 6-year-old daughter of Shadow Play, Lady Shadow is now three-for-three this season. Her career numbers now sit at 31 wins and over C$1.9 million earned for owners David Kryway, Carl Atley, Edwin Gold and BFJ Stable. Lady Shadow paid $2.20.

Bernadette, who finished fourth in the first elimination, was the fourth-place finisher to draw into next week’s final.

The scenario was simple for the Fan Hanover eliminations, as the top five finishers from each split advanced to next week’s final.

Idyllic Beach returned to Mohawk and found success once again. The Jimmy Takter trainee captured the first Fan Hanover elimination in 1:51. Driver Yannick Gingras was able to get a four-hole trip for Idyllic Beach and had a perfect view of several lead changes. Jaye’s A Lady led at the opening-quarter in :27.3, but was quickly circled by Soiree Seelster, who immediately surrendered the lead to Roaring To Go.

The newest leader paced a half of :55.3 and carried the lead around the far turn. Gingras came first up with Idyllic Beach and was able to surged to the lead in the lane. The Takter trainee finished off her mile with a final-quarter of :27.2 to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Al Mar Got A Fever, who followed the winner on the far turn, finished second, while Roaring To Go dug in for third.

The final two spots in next week’s final were grabbed by Future Headlines and Dancing Shadows K.

A daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, Idyllic Beach was making just her second start of the season and hadn’t competed in a pari-mutuel race since May 11.

“I knew she would be tight enough to win or give a good performance, Jimmy (Takter) has them ready,” said Gingras post-race. “I went by them at the top of the stretch with a handful of pace and the last sixteenth she was a little bit tired, so she needed the race, but I think she’ll be that much stronger next week.”

The winner of last year’s She’s A Great Lady Stakes, Idyllic Beach now has 10 wins in 16 career outings for earnings of over C$750,000. She is owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding, Brixton Medical Inc and Marvin Katz. Idyllic Beach paid $3.30 to win.

Tequila Monday lived up to her 1-5 billing to win the second Fan Hanover elimination in 1:50.4. The Chris Oakes trained filly and driver Brian Sears sat fourth throughout most of the mile, while Bettors Up led the field through relatively easy fractions of :27.1 and :56.3. She’s Watching came first up to engage in a heated third-quarter battle with Bettors Up. The third-quarter was paced in :27.1, which set up well for the stalking Tequila Monday, who was angled out on the far turn and was in full flight behind the lead pair.

In the stretch, Tequila Monday was able to track down and surge by Bettors Up to win by 1-1/4 lengths. She’s Watching held on for third, while Agent Q was fourth.

A daughter of American Ideal, Tequila Monday was making her first start on a track bigger than 5/8ths of a mile.

“I think she liked the big track a little better than the half-mile for sure,” said Sears following the race. “She gets a little bumpy at times, but she has a lot of go and we haven’t really found the bottom of her yet.”
Tequila Monday is now three-for-five this season and seven for 10 in her career. Her bankroll now exceeds C$300,000 for owners Susan Oakes and Chuck Pompey. The Oakes trainee paid $2.50 to win.

The finals for both the Roses Are Red and Fan Hanover were drawn on Saturday night. Elimination winners had the opportunity to select their posts and the fields can be viewed below.

Roses Are Red

1. Bernadette
2. Frost Damage Blues
3. Nike Franco N
4. Lady Shadow
5. Wrangler Magic
6. Call Me Queen Be
7. Witch Dali
8. Penpal
9. Pure Country
10. Prairie Sweetheart
AE: Lay Lady Lay

Fan Hanover

1. Bettors Up
2. Al Mar Got A Fever
3. She’s Watching
4. Idyllic Beach
5. Tequila Monday
6. Action Majesty
7. Agent Q
8. Future Headlines
9. Roaring To Go
10. Dancing Shadows K
AE: Obvious Blue Chip