Milton, ON – Rookie pacers made sure to grab their share of the spotlight on Saturday night’s (Aug. 29) packed program at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the Grade 3 Nassagaweya and Grade 3 Eternal Camnation Stakes.
Both events split into two divisions, with the boys in the Nassagaweya racing for C$110,000 a division and the fillies in the Eternal Camnation competing for C$120,000 a race.
Shalom Hanover kept his perfect record alive with an easy 1:51 victory in the first Nassagaweya Stakes division. The Dr. Ian Moore trained son of Papi Rob Hanover is now five for five to begin his racing career.
Driven by Louis-Philippe Roy, Shalom Hanover pushed forward off the wings and would give way to Yes I Am Hanover at an opening quarter of :27.1. Shalom Hanover and Roy would take their time riding in the two-hole, as Yes I Am Hanover slowed the tempo to a :56.4 half.
Shalom Hanover would get his cue to move entering the far turn, looping immediately to command and taking the field to three-quarters in 1:24.3. The stretch drive would just be a showcase for the undefeated rookie, as he paced away effortlessly in :26.3 to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Big D Energy finished second, while Yes I Am Hanover and Th Benedict completed the top four.
Shalom Hanover has now earned over C$220,000 in five starts for owner Shalom Hanover Stable. The Dr. Moore trainee has wins in the Tompkins-Geers, multiple Pennsylvania Sire Stakes legs and the Dream Maker to his credit. His latest Grand Circuit win provides a strong tune-up ahead of the upcoming Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship.
Mascarpone gave Dr. Moore and company a Nassagaweya double with a 1:51 win in the second division.
The son of Stay Hungry and driver Scott Zeron sat fourth throughout before angling on the far turn and wearing down a gritty Billy Hill for a half-length victory. Billy Hill had done the road work after clearing to the lead in the second quarter, posting clips of :56 and 1:23.2. The fast third quarter came when the leader was put under heavy pressure by 32-1 longshot Trashnyourdreams, who faded in the stretch.
L A Captain finished third, while Kerplunk was fourth.
Owned by Mascarpone Stable, Mascarpone is now two for five with over C$110,000 earned to begin his career. The clocking of 1:51 beat his previous best of 1:51.4.
The Eternal Camnation opened Saturday’s stakes action with Waves Of Fortune rocketing from third-over at the head of the lane to win the first division in 1:50.4.
A daughter of Bettor’s Delight, Waves Of Fortune was sent off as the public’s top choice and delivered for driver James MacDonald and trainer Tony Beaton. The Ontario Sire Stakes standout was making her Grand Circuit debut off back-to-back wins and used :26.4 final-quarter speed to sweep by rivals for a two-length score.
Heavens Touch held second after moving to the lead in the second quarter and facing pressure to three-quarters from Treacherous Nova, who crossed the line third.
The fractions were clocked in :26.2, :55.3 and 1:23.2. The mile of 1:50.4 shaved a fifth of a second off Waves Of Fortune’s previous best.
Winning trainer Beaton shares ownership of the rookie filly with Lisa Lefort, David Mercer and Teresa Davidson. Waves Of Fortune is now three for five with C$179,500 earned.
Twin B Copacabana made it a Beaton barn sweep of the Eternal Camnation with a 1:50.2 score in the second split.
Driven by Mark MacDonald, Twin B Copacabana flashed early speed and had to deal with first turn interference from a breaker. The Beaton trainee worked around the trouble and the leader exiting the first turn, posting clips of :55.2 and 1:22.4.
Twin B Copacabana had pressure at the head of the lane from the two-hole popping Twin B Mayreau. Those two would be joined by a trio of others for a wild finish that saw the top five separated by just a length and a quarter.
Twin B Copacabana dug in gamely to reach the wire first, holding off the hard-closing Money Carlo by a head and Jersey Bulldog by a neck. Qued Up was fourth by a length, while Twin B Mayreau was fifth.
A daughter of Cattlewash, Twin B Copacabana improved to three wins from six starts to begin her career for owners Copacabana Stable. Her 1:50.2 clocking matched her career best, which she took in her most recent start (OSS Gold on Aug. 17).