by Mark McKelvie/Ray Cotolo/WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Lady Shadow overcame a first-up trip to win the C$365,000 Roses Are Red final for the third year in a row Saturday (June 17) at Mohawk Racetrack in 1:48.4.

Lady Shadow wins her third consecutive Roses Are Red final in 1:48.4.

Lady Shadow floated off the gate towards the center of the field while Call Me Queen Be was sent for the front in :25.3. Soon overtaken by Nike Franco N midway down the backstretch, Lady Shadow soon edged off the rail and began a first-over advance towards the leader while Wrangler Magic struggled to find room, causing traffic issues through a :54 half.

Pacing three-quarters 1:21.3, Lady Shadow edged past Nike Franco N in the stretch to take the lead and began to drift while she tried to sprint away from Wrangler Magic. Call Me Queen Be angled out of the pocket and chased behind while Lady Shadow held off Wrangler Magic to win, with Call Me Queen Be getting third and Nike Franco N holding onto fourth.

A 6-year-old Shadow Play mare from the Camluck mare Lady Camella, Lady Shadow won her 32nd race in 59 tries, compiling C$2,108,662 in earnings. Competing for the interests of David Kryway, Carl Atley, Ed Gold, and Bfj Stable, trained by Ron Adams, and driven by Yannick Gingras, Lady Shadow paid $3.60 to win.

“I had to move her over a little bit (while Wrangler Magic struggled for room) and I just hoped to get back to the two-path,” Gingras said. “It was clear sailing after that. I thought I had everyone pretty much where I wanted them [in the final turn]. I assumed, the way I saw (the issues in)the backstretch that Louis Phillippe (-Roy on Wrangler Magic) would be disqualified. I knew I had the field stacked up behind me, and I knew I could’ve gone by Timmy (Tetrick on Nike Franco N) earlier and let her do her thing in the stretch. She’s so tough. She has big lungs and is real tough. No doubt I would’ve rather been on the lead tonight, but there was plenty of action and a lot of horses would’ve tried to take their shot at her; she was the horse to beat. I think tonight she proved that she’s the best.”

Lady Shadow paid $3.60 to win.

Bettor’s Up is upset-minded in Fan Hanover

Bettor’s Up, driven by Doug McNair, pulled off a 11-1 upset by a mere nose in the C$440,000 Fan Hanover final for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, part of the Pepsi North America Cup undercard.

USTA/Mark Hall photos

Bettor’s Up wins the Fan Hanover final at odds of 11-1 in a photo finish.

Bettor’s Up got away third while Agent Q and Al Mar Got A Fever battled for the early lead into the first turn. A parked out Agent Q stuck the front as they blasted by the quarter pole in :26.4. Bettors Up then made a quick rush to the lead before the :55.1 half. The 9-5 heavy favorite, Idyllic Beach, who was sitting fourth, was hoping to catch second-over cover so when Al Mar Got A Fever made a bid for the lead from third, the bettor’s choice followed. Bettor’s Up remained the leader as they passed the three-quarter marker in 1:22.1.

Agent Q, who was sitting second, was fed open racetrack and added pressure to Bettor’s Up. The pair dueled strides before the wire but Bettor’s Up poked a nose in front to score the victory in a new lifetime mark of 1:49.4. Agent Q was second in the photo finish and Tequila Monday finished third. Idyllic Beach was advancing from fourth to third but broke stride momentarily, which resulted in her finishing fourth.

“I thought (she held on),” said McNair. “I got my hopes up a little bit after and I kind of had to relax a bit. She is not a very big filly so I wasn’t quite sure.

“There wasn’t a lot of leavers,” he added. “I actually tried to get away in the two-hole behind Dave (Miller and Agent Q). It didn’t work out. But it actually worked out the right away for us. I had to revoke her back to the lead and she did the rest.”

The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Fresh Idea, who is trained by Scott McEneny, notched her second victory of the season and eighth career triumph. With the win, the filly lifts her career earnings to C$456,499 for Bradley Grant, Teresa Davidson and Michelle McEneny.

“She had a good week,” said trainer McEneny. “She drew well and she raced really tough last week so I was very happy with her race last week. Things worked out tonight.”

Bettor’s Up finished second her in her elimination behind Tequila Monday.

Bettor’s Up paid $24.40, 10.40 and $4.80, combining with Agent Q ($10.40, $5.50) for a $280.40 (1-7) exactor. A 1-7-5 (Tequila Monday, $2.60) triactor was worth $782.70, while a $1 superfecta [1-7-5-4 (Idyllic Beach)] returned $3,649.35.