by Greg Blanchard, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — Backstreet Sweetie turned in a determined front-end victory in Thursday’s (July 31) C$53,100 Whenuwishuponastar Pacing Series Final for 2-year-old fillies at Mohawk Racetrack.

The daughter of Dragon Again-Cindys Place had finished a closing third in the first leg of the series for driver Mike Saftic and then opted to bypass round two, giving her two weeks off heading into the final.

New Image Media photo

Backstreet Sweetie was a 1:54.1 winner for Mike Saftic.

Saftic decided to change up tactics this time out and had the filly leaving sharply from post seven to land a two hole position behind post 10 starter Platonic heading into the first turn. After tucking briefly through a :27 second opener, Backstreet Sweetie came right back to the outside and took over command just prior to the first half of :56.2.

At that point in the mile, West Of L A, who came in undefeated in two starts, made the first move to the outside from fifth and had advanced up into second spot at the third station in 1:25.4. Despite a gutsy effort, West Of L A was not able to get past the wheel of the pacesetter who held on by 1-1/2 lengths for the 1:54.1 score.

West Of L A did hold on for the place spot while the Carl Jamieson-trained entry of Break The News and She’s A Fan finished third and fourth, respectively.

The victory was the second in just three tries for Backstreet Sweetie, who is trained by John Pentland for Saftic, who co-owns along with Natalie Pentland and Karen Carroll. The winner’s share of the purse increased her seasonal take to $36,259.

Backstreet Sweetie is one of 189 fillies still eligible to the C$780,000 (est.) She’s A Great Lady Stake with eliminations set for Saturday, August 23, at Mohawk.