by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — A determined Riveting Rosie turned in a career-best effort for an upset victory Friday night (July 3) in the C$40,000 Miss Versatility second leg at Mohawk Racetrack.

A talented field of seven older trotting mares contested the second round of the Miss Versatility under perfect conditions at the Campbellville oval. The public placed the bulk of their support behind Indiana invader Allie Labrook, who was sent off as the 4-5 favorite, and the Dave Menary trainee Charmed Life, who was the second choice at 8-5.

New Image Media photo

Riveting Rosie was a narrow winner in a time of 1:52.4.

However, Riveting Rosie at odds of 23-1 played the role of spoiler in Friday’s second leg. Driven by Paul MacDonell, Riveting Rosie sprinted to the lead and posted an opening quarter of :27.4. Allie Labrook got away in second, while Charmed Life followed her in third.

The two favorites followed along through the middle half, as Riveting Rosie posted fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.

In the stretch, Allie Labrook tipped to the outside and Charmed Life swung out to the far outside to take their best shot at the leader, but Riveting Rosie showed her grit and dug in to fight off the favorites and win by a neck in 1:52.4. Charmed Life edged ahead of Allie Labrook in the final strides to finish second.

A star graduate of the Ontario Sires Stakes program, Riveting Rosie has now won two of six starts in her 4-year-old season for trainer John Bax. She is owned by Bax’s Parkhill Stud Farm, Don Allensen, J And T Stable and John Hayes. A daughter of Muscle Mass, Riveting Rosie now has career earnings of C$943,153 and 13 career victories. The clocking of 1:52.4 established a new career mark for Riveting Rosie. She paid $49.30 to win.

The Miss Versatility Series will now shift to The Meadowlands for the third leg on July 18. The series will also make a stop at Tioga Downs on Sept. 7, before wrapping up with the final at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on Little Brown Jug day.

Caviart Scarlett delivers 105-1 shocker in Town Pro Series

The Canada Day fireworks may have been Wednesday, but Caviart Scarlett put on her own fireworks show Friday night at Mohawk with a 105-1 upset victory in the second leg of the Town Pro.

A field of ten 3-year-old pacing fillies battled it out Friday in the C$18,000 second leg division. The Frank Antonacci trainees Lindys Old Lady and Imagine Dragon captured the first leg divisions, but just a single division was necessary Friday night.

Lindys Old Lady was sent off as the 8-5 favorite and made a second quarter move to the front. The favorite posted middle fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.3 with Southwind Geisha pressing at her first over and Fan Hanover elimination winner Moonlit Dance placed second over.

Meanwhile, Caviart Scarlett paced along in seventh for the majority of the mile, but was angled to the far outside for the stretch drive. In the stretch, Moonlit Dance did not fire off her cover and it appeared Lindys Old Lady was going to go all the way, but in the late stages of the mile Caviart Scarlett came charging from the back to pick off the public’s choice and deliver a stunning upset in 1:52. Lindys Old Lady had to settle for second, while Moonlit Dance was third.

A daughter of Sportswriter, Caviart Scarlett is trained by Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman for owner Caviart Farms. The sophomore pacing filly was unraced at age two and was coming into her fifth career start Friday off a maiden breaking win on June 23 at Mohawk. The second leg victory established a new career mark for Caviart Scarlett and doubled her earnings to C$18,640. A $2 win ticket on Caviart Scarlett paid an incredible $211.20.

The C$48,600 final of the Town Pro Series will take place next Saturday (July 11) at Mohawk, along with the C$50,400 Summertime Final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.