by Kimberly Rinker, managing editor, Hoof Beats

Campbellville, ON — Buck I St Pat rallied from the back of the pack to capture the C$265,350 Classic Oaks Trot Final for mares on Saturday night (June 16) at Mohawk Raceway.

The 4-year-old daughter of Jailhouse Jesse and driver Brian Sears mowed down the leading Birminghim (Trevor Ritchie) in the final strides to capture her fifth win of the season in eight tries for owners Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen and Ron Fuller.

Mystical Sunshine took the early lead but was quickly overtaken by Birminghim to the :28.1 first quarter. Piloted confidently by Trevor Ritchie, the big brown mare by Striking Sahbra easily cruised through fractions of :57.3 and 1:27.3 before Ritchie pulled the ear plugs just past the three-quarter-mile marker. The field began to gang up on Birminghim, but she seemed to have the victory well in hand through a 1:56.1 mile clocking.

She didn’t count on Buck I St Pat, however, who came flying for Sears in the middle of the racetrack, with Passionate Glide (Ron Pierce) right on her heels. The diminutive filly stormed by the leader to win in 2:40.3 for the 1-3/8th mile test. Passionate Glide got up for second, while Birminghim hung on for third.

“I never get her to the gate early because she’s had some issues about that in the past,” Sears said. “I was content where we were sitting throughout the mile and when I pulled her and asked her to go, she really responded well. She has a real good late kick to her, and that’s how she got there tonight.”