by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Tidewaterdragonfly was born in Virginia, but seems at home in Ontario.

The 4-year-old pacing mare has raced three times at Mohawk Racetrack, about 40 miles west of downtown Toronto, and picked up two wins and a second. The top triumph of her career, so far, came last year in the $682,670 Fan Hanover Stakes final at Mohawk.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Trainer Kelly O’Donnell congratulates driver Ron Pierce after Tidewaterdragonfly’s win in the 2007 Fan Hanover at Mohawk.

On Saturday night, June 28, Tidewaterdragonfly will look to add to her impressive record at Mohawk when she faces nine mares in the C$405,715 Roses Are Red Stakes final. Tidewaterdragonfly, who won last week in 1:50.1 for owners David Beachler of Portsmouth, Va., and Anne Singleton of Suffolk, Va., will be driven by Dave Palone and starts from post three.

“She loves that track,” said Singleton, who runs a real estate investment firm with Beachler. “I just hope everything goes well; she gives it her best shot and stays safe. We have a lot of faith in her. She’s a very good mare. Unfortunately, she’s faced some great competitors since she was 2 years old. But she definitely tries. She loves what she does.”

Although it’s a long trip from Virginia to Canada, Singleton and Beachler use the opportunity to sample regional cuisine, such as authentic buffalo wings.

“They’ve got the best wings,” Singleton said, laughing. “Last year, we flew into Buffalo, ate wings, and drove on over to Mohawk. They don’t know how to make wings down here like they do up there. I asked people how they make them, but it’s a big secret. They’re pretty closed lipped about it.”

Singleton will have to take consolation in watching Tidewaterdragonfly winging down the stretch. The mare was bred by Singleton’s friend, Donna Perry of Thaxton, Va. Tidewaterdragonfly’s father, Dragon Again, made $2.3 million in his racing career.

Nigel Soult photo

Tidewaterdragonfly has earned $643,314 in her career.

“She’s always been a tough competitor and loves to race,” said trainer Kelly O’Donnell, who also trained Dragon Again. “She’s good gaited like her sire and she’s following in his footsteps.”

Lifetime, Tidewaterdragonfly has won nine times and earned $643,314.

“She’s the best horse we’ve had, by far,” said Singleton, who was introduced to harness racing through a friend and trips to a nearby off-track betting parlor. “Hopefully, we’ve got some good 2-year-olds coming up, but they don’t come along like this very often.”

Here is the field, in post position order, for the Roses Are Red, with drivers, trainers and morning line odds:

1. Invitro – Roger Mayotte – Gord Irwin – 10-1
2. Southwind Tempo – Tim Tetrick – Kevin Lare – 2-1
3. Tidewaterdragonfly – Dave Palone – Kelly O’Donnell – 9-2
4. Ideal Weather – Anthony MacDonald – Ron Parsons – 30-1
5. Southwind Madonna – Lyle MacArthur – Carl MacArthur – 7-1
6. Elusive Prey – Brad Forward – Casie Coleman – 20-1
7. Apple Delight – Keith Oliver – Bill Companion – 30-1
8. Moving Pictures – Mark MacDonald – Casie Coleman – 3-1
9. My Little Dragon – Jack Moiseyev – Mike Vanderkemp – 5-1
10. Arts A Flutter – Sylvain Filion – Bob McIntosh – 25-1