by Mark McKelvie and Keith McCalmont – WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — A quartet of Canadian Breeders Championships for the nation’s finest 3-year-old pacers and trotters highlighted the undercard for Maple Leaf Trot night at Mohawk.

Harper Blue Chip, with Sylvain Filion at the controls, turned in another top notch performance to win the C$121,958 Canadian Breeders Championship for 3-year-old colts and geldings trotters.

After getting away in third, the son of Majestic Son – Winning Jonlin was sent to the lead approaching the half and never looked back winning by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:55.2. Muscle Matters, the early leader, finished second, while Jitterbug finished third by a nose over Entranced.

Harper Blue Chip is trained by Mark Steacy for owners Landmark 6 Racing Stable, David McDonald, David Reid and George Judson.

Following the race, Howard Pearce, a member of the Landmark 6 Racing Sable, said it was a sweet victory.

“It’s a tough year to have a really nice horse like ‘Harper’ because of those three nice horses down south,” said Pearce. “But he’s proven that he is one of the best in Canada, so that’s wonderful.”

Pearce also mentioned that it appears Harper Blue Chip will now head south to the Meadowlands to compete in the Hambletonian.

The Breeders Championship victory was the second win in five starts this season for Harper Blue Chip and the fifth win of his career. His career earnings now jump more than C$350,000.

He paid $2.70 to win.

White Becomes Her extended her win streak to four in winning the C$118,090 Canadian Breeders Championship for the 3-year-old filly trotters.

Mario Baillargeon moved the daughter of Angus Hall – Pursuing Keagan from the two-hole to the lead in the second quarter. After posting a three-quarter time of 1:28.1, White Becomes Her trotted away from her rivals with a :28.3 last quarter to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:56.4.

Margie finished in the place spot, while Mayberry trotted into third.

White Becomes Her is trained by Ben Baillargeon for owner Vince Mastrangelon.

The Breeders Championship was the fifth win in eight starts this season for White Becomes Her.

Following the race, Mario Baillargeon said we haven’t seen the best of her yet.

“I don’t think so, I can’t wait to race her with the American fillies and get a trip,” said Baillargeon. “She loves to follow a lot more than racing on the front, so I would like to get her on a helmet behind Shake It Cerry and see what happens in the lane.”

White Becomes Her now has six wins and earnings of over C$210,000 in her career.

She returned $3.30.

Silverhill Shadow repelled all comers with a smart front-end pace to win the C$122,028 Canadian Breeders Championship for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Chris Christoforou blasted off the gate to demand the lead from pocket-sitting Shadowbriand marking a quarter in :27 and a half in :56.2 through a persistent drizzle over a sloppy track.

Sylain Filion made a menacing move first-over into the turn with Victor Bayama, but Silverhill Shadow had another gear and stepped away to a dominant win in 1:51.2. A ground saving Shadowbriand, efficiently steered by Paul MacDonnell, stayed on determinedly to earn the place photo over Victory Bayama.

Trained by Dr. Ian Moore, the Shadow Play colt earned his fourth win of the campaign from six starts.

The conditioner noted a very important similarity to his champion sire.

“Heart and desire for sure,” said Moore. “He’s a big strong colt and he gives you all he’s got every time out.”

A front-end trip was always in the cards for the quick Silverhill Shadow.

“Chris was asking him to get the front going the first quarter, and I thought I had him warmed up pretty good, but he was great the last half-mile and that’s where it counted,” said Moore.

He paid $5.80 to win.

Brescia Seelster pulled off a 60-1 upset in the C$122,343 Canadian Breeders Championship final for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

Sudoku brushed to the lead under urging from Jody Jamieson down the backstretch in :56.1, but it was an amped up My Secret Belle, piloted by Joe Hudon, who took over into the turn.

My Secret Belle and Sudoku battled to mid-stretch before a closing cavalry of filly pacers converged with the outside rally of Brescia Seelster the winning move for Mario Baillargeon. Performing Art, a 40-1 long shot, stormed up the rail to earn place money keying boxcar payoffs.

It was the fourth win in eight starts this season for Brescia Seelster, improving on a 1-4-1 record from 10 starts a year ago.

“She was a little slow in maturing and Mario has been telling us all along as this horse gets older it’ll be better,” said co-owner Norman Keyes.

Co-owned and trained by David Keyes, Brescia Seelster paid $138.70 to win.