by Greg Gangle, WEG media

Campbellvillle, ON — Due to a power outage this past Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, four stakes races were competed on Monday night (August 23) in a non-wagering event before the regular card. A pair of Nassagaweya Stakes and Eternal Camnation Stakes divisions were contested.

Pretty Katherine set a Canadian record of 1:50.4 to win her Eternal Camnation division.

Trainer Casie Coleman and driver Mark MacDonald swept all three divisions of the Eternal Camnation Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies. Idyllic was victorious in her division Saturday night before the power outage and Coleman once again returned to the winner’s circle on Monday night with Mater Deo and Pretty Katherine, who set a 1:50.4 Canadian record in her division.

Mater Deo cleared to the front in the first division from post seven but then released Cards That Count and driver Paul MacDonell as the field passed the opening panel of :26.2. As the field headed towards the half, MacDonald was not happy positioned second and once again took command of the lead through the half of :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.4.

As the field headed down the stretch Mater Deo was able to hold off a late challenge from Tea Pot Hanover and driver Sylvain Filion to win in 1:52.3 with Cards That Count finishing third.

Mater Deo now has career earnings of C$58,264 for owners Steve Calhoun and West Wins Stable.

Pretty Katherine set a Canadian record of 1:50.4 in her division, just one-fifth of a second off the world record set by A and G’s Confusion.

Bunkhouse Babe and driver Steve Condren took advantage of post one and led her rivals past the opening quarter in :27.1. Pretty Katherine was not content positioned third and took command before the half in :55.2.

Pretty Katherine led her rivals past the three-quarters in 1:24.1 and drove away from her rivals down the stretch to win by over eight lengths. Buck Stops Here and driver Jody Jamieson finished second with Swinging Beauty and Doug McNair third.

Pretty Katherine extended her undefeated streak to three wins for owner John Liviakis. She now has career earnings of C$63,514.

Driver Andy Miller guided Shadyshark Hanover to victory in the first Nassagaweya Stakes division for 2-year-old pacing colts.

Miller left the gate with the son of Cam’s Card Shark and was positioned third as Arsenal left from post eight to guide his rivals past the first quarter in :27. Driver Randy Waples and Arsenal took their rivals past the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:25.2 with Mach Of Ballykeep right behind Arsenal and Shadyshark Hanover third along the rail.

As the field marched for home, Miller was able to stickhandle his way out of tight quarters to find late racing room to pick off Arsenal in the final strides. Mach Of Ballykeep finished third in 1:52.2.

Andy Miller’s brother Erv trains Shadyshark Hanover and co-owns with John Fielding, Richard Strachan and Ronald Michelon. This victory marks Shadyshark Hanover’s first career victory and lifts his earnings to C$87,205.

New Image Media photos

Big Jim and Phil Hudon were 1:51.1 winners in their Nassagaweya division.

Big Jim as expected was victorious for driver Phil Hudon in 1:51.1, equaling his career’s best in the final division.

Ohmygosh Hanover left alertly from post nine and crossed over to take command as the field marched past the opening quarter in :26.2. Hudon was not content positioned fourth and rallied Big Jim to the lead before the half in :55.4.

Big Jim took his rivals past three-quarters in 1:24.1 and drove away from his rivals down the stretch to win convincingly. Ohmygosh Hanover and driver Mark MacDonald held on for second with Feel Like A Fool and driver Andy Miller finishing third.

Big Jim now has career earnings of C$85,825 for owner Jim Carr and trainer James ‘Friday’ Dean.

The majority of horses that raced in these stakes events will return this coming Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack to compete in the Metro Stakes and She’s A Great Lady Stakes eliminations. The Canadian Pacing Derby eliminations for the nation’s best older pacing horses will also be contested Saturday night.