by Bruce Murray, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — The inaugural edition of the Casual Breeze Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies on Friday night took on a very special meaning for the family of the late great horseman Carl Allen.

Allen, who passed away suddenly 11 days ago at his home in Ocala, Florida, would have been wearing a smile from ear to ear after Miss Michelle H, a filly he was closely involved with, captured her division of the Casual Breeze in a Mohawk track record-equaling mile of 1:55².

Driven by Carl’s son, Rod, the King Conch daughter led for every step of the route including a :27⁴ closing quarter to seal the outcome. Fraulien Bluestone finished four lengths back in second, with Tag A Victory third.

Peaceful Way, the 2003 O’Brien Award winner, made her season’s debut in the race, but after sitting in the pocket for three-quarters of the mile, she made an untimely break and finished last.

It was the fourth win in five starts for Miss Michelle H, who is on lease to Joann and Joe Thomson and the Carl and Rod Allen Stable. As a two-year-old, she showed an abundance of talent with seven top three finishes in eight starts. The first place share of $27,750 boosted her lifetime earnings to $170,790.

“I’ll say this one more time: When Dad preps them in the winter time, they’re ready to go,” said an obviously emotional Rod Allen in the winner’s circle. “Last year she was a little warm and she would take a lot of the race out of her. She’s gotten smarter and has figured out what’s going on. She’s gets real game up front (and) she can also race off the pace.”

While Miss Michelle H added her name to the Mohawk record book, she wasn’t alone by night’s end. Ifhallscouldtalk also spun off a 1:55² performance in the fourth and final division of the Casual Breeze. Trevor Ritchie moved the Angus Hall miss three-wide past the half around the battling Armbro Balandra and Sno Doubt About It and she went on to an open length decision.

A six-time winner in 13 starts at two, Ifhallscouldtalk, who’s trained by Rene Laarman, scored her first victory in three tries this season and pushed her career bankroll to $246,375 for owner Mel Hartman of Ottawa.

After a lengthy judges’ inquiry following the opening division, first time starter Sunshinenlollipops and co-owning driver Rick Zeron were moved up from second and placed first.

Trevor Ritchie, aboard Shannon Hall, had fired off of Sunshinenlollipops’ cover in the stretch and hit the wire first in 1:56². However, it was deemed by the judges that within the second quarter of the race, Shannon Hall violated rule 22.05 of the Ontario Racing Commission’s Rules of Standardbred Racing (for causing confusion to trailing horses).

Shannon Hall was subsequently placed last in the nine horse field and Sunshinenlollipops was placed first.

Sunshinenlollipops ($4.80), who Zeron also trains, had retaken the lead from the pocket during the second quarter and led the field to a :58³ half-mile. The Garland Lobell filly rang up the third call in 1:28 before making Shannon Hall earn the lead in late stretch.

Owned by Zeron along with The Camel Club Stable of Ontario and Claude Charest of Quebec, Sunshinenlollipops scored in her lifetime debut.

As result of the placings, Bali Blue Chip and driver Steve Condren were moved up to second, while Hollywood Beauty and Tom Sells were bumped up to third.

Staying true to her current front-end style and now unbeaten on the campaign, Zorgwijk Emani wired the field for the fourth straight time this season, taking the third division in 1:55⁴.

Leaving hard from the five hole, the daughter of Valleymeister-Super Charming was sent through fractions of :27³, :58 and 1:28, before regular partner Kevin Wallis brought her home with a :27⁴ final panel.

Mystical Sunshine, paired with driver Paul MacDonell, finished second, one and a half lengths in arrears. Blossom Seelster, in rein to Doug Brown, finished one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

“She seemed really comfortable and she did what was necessary,” said Wallis. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more of her (so far) this year; she has been perfect.”

Trained by Linda Wallis for the Cuzzins Stable of Boca Raton, Florida, Zorgwijk Emani has now banked $89,843 on the campaign and has $181,677 in overall earnings.