Milton, ON — The Graduate Series, for 4-year-olds, started Saturday night (May 30) at Woodbine Mohawk Park with Ayeaye Captain Deo and Monserrate drawing first blood.
Both the Graduate Pace and Trot opened with a single full-field division for a purse of C$101,250 each.
Ayeaye Captain Deo and driver Bob McClure capitalized on a wicked front-end battle to sweep up for a career-best 1:47.3 victory in the Graduate Series Pace.
All eyes were on Bruno No No No and Prince Hal Hanover, as both have turned heads to start their 4-year-old seasons. Prince Hal Hanover got away third, while Bruno No No No got away fourth. Both made moves entering the backstretch, with Prince Hal Hanover touching down on the lead just prior to a :54.1.
Driver Todd McCarthy had a decision to make with Prince Hal Hanover as Bruno No No No and Doug McNair advanced right up beside. The decision was a final-turn throw-down that saw the pacers got toe-to-toe for a :26.2 split to hit three-quarters in 1:20.3.
Prince Hal Hanover turned away Bruno No No No for the stretch drive but didn’t have much left in the tank. The backfield got into play as Fifth And Five and Ayeaye Captain Deo started storming on the outside.
Fifth And Five was spotted fifth, several lengths off the lead turning for home. Ayeaye Captain Deo was on his back. Both came surging in the lane to go by rivals, with Ayeaye Captain Deo delivering the most on the end to win. Fifth And Five was second, beaten 1-3/4 lengths.
Prince Hal Hanover hung in tough to finish third. Bruno No No No didn’t quit either and was just a little more than a length back of his main rival to finish sixth.
Trained by Garry Merner, Ayeaye Captain Deo entered Saturday’s contest with two wins in five starts on the season. The son of Captaintreacherous owned by Gino Toscani.
The Graduate Series leg win, and 10th overall, will move Ayeaye Captain Deo’s career earnings to over C$400,000.
Ayeaye Captain Deo went off at 25-1 and paid $52 to win.
On the trot, Monserrate got room up the rail late to win the Graduate Series opening leg in 1:52, giving driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Andrew Harris a second stakes win on the Saturday program.
Leaving from post six in an overflow field of 11, Monserrate was a parked-out third at the opening quarter, which saw Hey Porter leading the group in :27. Monserrate marched up to the lead in the second split before allowing Mr Mouton to clear around just after a :55.2 half. Mr Walner Fashion was left first-up and pressed Mr Mouton’s wheel to three-quarters in 1:23.3.
In the stretch, Mr Mouton did his best to fight off the outside challengers but couldn’t keep the rail shut, tiring late and opening up enough room for Monserrate to shoot through for the victory. Hey Porter finished third, while Warrior was fourth.
A son of Chapter Seven, Monserrate was entering off a bounce-back 1:51.4 score at the Meadowlands on May 15. The Harris trainee has now won two of four starts this season and is a seven-time winner lifetime.
Owned by Punisher 11 Stable LLC, Monserrate has earned over C$750,000 lifetime.
Monserrate paid $4.40 to win.
The Graduate Series now shifts to the Meadowlands for the next leg, on June 12.