McWicked springs upset in Gold Cup
June 17, 2017,by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications
Cambellville, ON — Sitting off a fast pace, McWicked rode cover and pounced on pacesetter Nirvana Seelster in the stretch to win the C$100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational in 1:48.2 on the undercard of the Pepsi North America Cup Saturday (June 17).
Driver David Miller floated McWicked off the gate to get away fifth while Nirvana Seelster battled with Dr J Hanover through a :25.4 first quarter, with Great Vintage getting away behind them in third. Yielding for the pocket, Nirvana Seelster soon pulled to the outside to retake the lead from Dr J Hanover before the half, with McWicked grabbing cover from Dealt A Winner pacing fourth in a :54.2 half.
Nirvana Seelster maintained control circling the final turn. Dealt A Winner crept closer to be third wide of pocket-sitter Dr J Hanover, carrying McWicked to be second over and to the outside of Great Vintage pacing fourth. After a third-quarter of 1:22, Miller swung McWicked around his faltering cover and pursued Nirvana Seelster, who held the lead until the final hundred yards when McWicked edged past and advanced to a half-length win over Nirvana Seelster, Great Vintage, and Shamballa, who rallied up the rail for fourth.
Competing for owner S S G Stables, McWicked, a 6-year-old horse by Mcardle from the Western Ideal mare Western Sahara, scored his 20th win in 59 tries, pushing his career earnings to C$1,928,866.
Trained by Casie Coleman, McWicked returned $4.90 to win.
- Hannelore Hanover wins Armbro Flight; International Moni takes Goodtimes (Saturday, June 17, 2017)
Hannelore Hanover, driven by Yannick Gingras and trained by Ron Burke, successfully defended her title in the C$253,000 Armbro Flight final for trotting mares on Saturday night (June 17) at Mohawk Racetrack, part of the Pepsi North America Cup undercard. The 2016 Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner won last year’s Armbro Flight in similar fashion to this year’s edition: the mare basically front-stepped her way to the winner’s circle.
- Lady Shadow three-peats in Roses Are Red; Bettor’s Up upsets in Fan Hanover (Saturday, June 17, 2017)
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.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.
- Fear The Dragon captures 34th Pepsi North America Cup (Saturday, June 17, 2017)
Fear The Dragon, driven by David Miller, defeated the bettor’s choice Huntsville by a three-quarters of a length to capture the prestigious C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup in 1:48.4, Saturday (June 17) night at Mohawk Racetrack.Trained by Delaware, Ohio’s Brian Brown, Fear The Dragon, gave his conditioner his first Cup victory and his driver back-to back Cup wins. Miller, who now has two trophies, won last year’s edition with Betting Line. Stablemate Downbytheseaside, who is also trained by Brown, finished third.