by Greg Blanchard, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — Yet another track record fell by the wayside on Sunday night (September 2) at Mohawk Racetrack as Michelle’s Power turned in a stunning 1:50.1 clocking from post 10 to capture the lone C$245,945 division of the Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers.

The time obliterated the stakes record of 1:51.4 which was held jointly be Ifyoucouldcwhati C and Armbro Amoretto and lowered the track record of 1:50.2 set by Milliondollarsmile earlier this year.

After leaving alertly for position, Jamieson brought Michelle’s Power to the outside following the :26.3 first quarter. The pair did not clear to command until just past the half of :55. At that point, race favorite Hana Hanover made her move and Michelle’s Power picked up the pace noticeably in the third panel, reaching three-quarters in 1:21.3.

As the field turned for home, Hana Hanover continued her rally and early leader Breathdefying ducked to the inside. Neither was any match for Michelle’s Power, who pulled away at the end for her fifth win of the campaign. Hana Hanover held second with Breathdefying finishing third.

“We got cover last week and followed the winner, and she just backed up in the stretch,” said driver Jody Jamieson. “She had a high white count last week, but they went to work on her and she was better tonight. I thought I was in a tough spot tonight sitting fourth, but when I moved her we cleared to the lead. If they can keep her healthy, she can go with anybody in the division.”

The victory for the Bill Elliott trainee pushed her career bankroll over the $780,000 plateau for owner Jeffrey Snyder of New York, N.Y.

Windsong Espoir just missed the stakes record with a scintillating 1:56 victory in one of four Champlain Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

With Steve Condren in tow, the son of Kadabra-Diamond Image made his move to the front in the second quarter of his C$91,412 division and then cruised to a dominant win over McCarron and Hit The Mark to miss the stakes record by just one-fifth of a second.

“He was pretty green when I moved him over to the front,” said driver Steve Condren. “Last week he had cover until deep in the stretch. We’re just trying to teach him what it’s all about. He’s a big growthy colt, and he still has a few things to learn.”

It was only the third lifetime start for Windsong Espoir, who is trained by Brad Maxwell for owners Jerry Vanboekel, Peter Heffering William Loyens and Dr. Michael Wilson. The colt, who was coming off a win in the final of the Bridger Trotting Series, increased his seasonal take to $67,687 with the win.

In the opening C$89,413 division, Surtees Hanover regained his winning ways with an off-the-pace score for driver David Miller in 1:57.4. The son of Andover Hall- Sharise Seelster, who was coming off a second-place finish in the Peter Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands, edged out Di Manggio and race favorite B Strike Three.

“Right off the bat he was good gaited and sure footed and he always showed signs of talent,” said driver David Miller. “He’s pretty handy and has a good head. Those are two big helpers. We didn’t get to qualify him as much as we wanted to leading up to this race because the track was bad (at Harrah’s Chester on August 21), but he’s a class act and he got the job done tonight. This isn’t the first time he’s opened our eyes.”

Sunday night’s win was the fifth in six tries this season for the Jonas Czernyson trainee and boosted his seasonal bankroll to just shy of the $200,000 mark for the Robert Rosenheim Stables Ltd. of Sharon, Ct.

Intimidator, another son of Andover Hall, captured the third division for driver Rick Zeron in an identical 1:57.4 clocking. After taking command approaching three-quarters, the colt trotted to a convincing win over Celebrity Rocky and Larpege.

It was the second win in five starts this season for Intimidator, who was making his first start for new trainer Carl Porcelli. He had recently been purchased for a reported six-figure price by Jon Lewis of Yorktown, Ind.

Sunday night’s other division went to OSS standout Keystone Titan (Mr Lavec-Trista Seelster) in 1:59. He cruised to an easy win over Smoking Gun and Mr Mission and increased his seasonal earnings to $124,990 for trainer John Kopas and owners George Hempt and Alice Kopas.

The Champlain Stakes continue on Monday night (September 3) at Mohawk with the 2-year-old filly trotters competing in another quartet of divisions. First post is at 7:20 p.m.