Somebeachsomewhere, Graduate Series contested at Mohawk
June 4, 2016,by Mark McKelvie, for WEG Communications
Campbellville, ON — The Pepsi North America Cup picture became a little bit clearer after Saturday night’s (June 4) Somebeachsomewhere Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack. A talented group of 19 3-year-old pacers competed in a pair of C$75,000 Somebeachsomewhere divisions. Of the 19 competitors in Saturday’s (June 4) event, 17 were eligible to the Pepsi North America Cup.
Betting Line continued his impressive early-season with a 1:50.1 victory in the first ‘Beach’ split.
The Casie Coleman trainee got away fourth for driver Jonathan Drury and was quickly moved in the second-quarter when Tony Alagna trainee American Passport brushed to the front from third. Betting Line followed his rival and cleared to command at the half in :55.2. After reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:23.3, Betting Line and American Passport created a little separation on their competition in the lane. The Coleman trainee was able to shoot home in :26.3 and hold off deep stretch push by a strong finishing American Passport to win by half a length. Michaels Victory finished third, while Magnum J was fourth.
A son of Bettors Delight, Betting Line entered Saturday’s (June 4) race off an impressive 1:49.4 score on May 21. The sophomore paced a :52.2 back-half to secure the victory on that occasion.
“He won so I’m not disappointed with him obviously, but he was a bit worked up in the paddock tonight,” said Coleman, following Saturday’s (June 4) victory. “I actually had to move his paddock stall down to the end of the paddock and he took a little bit of his race out of him before he went to the gate tonight. He’s a little better than he was tonight and we will get that rectified for next week.”
Betting Line, who banked over C$540,000 as a rookie and won the OSS Super Final, is owned by West Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun and Mac Nichol. His 2016 record now sits at two wins and a second in three starts.
The son of Bettors Delight is a top contender heading into the NA Cup eliminations and was the heavy 2-5 choice.
“He’s coming into the NA Cup perfect,” Coleman said. “I couldn’t be any happier with his schedule coming into the NA Cup and I just have to fix a couple paddock situations and I might put his shoes back to how I used to have them.”
Betting Line had a shoeing change of steel to aluminum for Saturday’s start. The Coleman trainee paid $2.80 to win.
The second division saw Lyons Snyder turn in a huge effort to win in 1:49.
Lyons Snyder upsets early North America Cup favorite Control The Moment.
Driven by Sylvain Filion, Lyons Snyder left from post three and got away in the two-hole behind Major Hill. The Mark Silva trained colt didn’t sit in the pocket long and circled around to the front just after Major Hill cut a :25.4 opening-quarter. Lyons Snyder rolled right along in the middle-half with fractions of :54.1 and 1:22.1. Meanwhile, O’Brien Award winner Control The Moment was sitting second-over rounding the final turn and ready to fire. In the stretch, Control The Moment took his best shot and got right up to Lyons Snyder, but the Silva trainee dug in and shot home in :26.4 to win by half a length. Nocturnal Bluechip finished third, while Major Hill was fourth.
A son of Well Said, Lyons Snyder entered Saturday’s (June 4) contest with three wins in five starts this season after going winless in five outings as a rookie.
“He’s trained good all year,” said Silva, who took over the training of the colt late last season. “He was sore last year, we gave him four months off and he’s come back great this year.”
Lyons Snyder has now earned C$105,968 this season for owners Jeff Snyder and Geoffrey Lyons Mound and is a serious contender heading into the NA Cup.
“He still runs out a little,” Silva said. “We’ve got a little more work to do with him, but if I straighten that out he’s a serious horse.”
Lyons Snyder was sent off as the 3-2 favorite and paid $5.10 to win.
Next up for the majority of the ‘Beach’ competitors is the Pepsi North America Cup eliminations next Saturday (June 11). The last ‘Cup’ champ to win a division of the Somebeachsomewhere was JK Endofanera in 2014.
Also on Saturday (June 4), the Graduate Series made its debut at Mohawk Racetrack with many of the sport’s top 4-year-olds meeting up.
Freaky Feet Pete headlined a seven-horse field for the Graduate Pace and lived up to the hype with a 1:49.1 victory.
Scott Zeron picked up the live catch-drive behind the Larry Rheinheimer trainee, made a quarter-pole move and never looked back. After Rockin In Heaven posted a :26 opening-quarter, Freaky Feet Pete took the lead and rolled through the middle-half in :54.3 and 1:22.4. The son of Rockin Image finished the job with a :26.2 final-quarter under minimal urging. Rockin In Heaven finished a length and a quarter back in second, while Dudes The Man and Rock N Roll World finished third and fourth, respectively.
Freaky Feet Pete now has four wins in five starts this season to bring his career record to 28 wins in 32 outings. His most recent victory pushes his career earnings to C$1.3 million for owners Mary Jo Rheinheimer and Marty Rheinheimer.
Larry Rheinheimer noted prior to Saturday’s race that Freaky Feet Pete’s upcoming schedule is currently undecided.
Freaky Feet Pete paid $2.20 to win.
A field of 11 4-year-old trotters squared off in the C$98,250 Graduate Trot.
Returning to his home track after suffering his first loss of the season, Musical Rhythm called all the shots and scored a 1:52.3 victory for Mario and Ben Baillargeon.
New Image Media photos
Musical Rhythm parlays a perfect trip to victory in the second leg of the Graduate.
The son of Cantab Hall trotted out quickly from post-five to grab command. Top contender Crazy Wow made a break when parked around the first turn, which changed the complexion of the race. Musical Rhythm was able to get a :29.3 second-quarter breather to lead the field by the half in :57. The soft-quarter was the turning point, as the 2-1 favorite reached the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1 and sprinted home in :27.2 for the 2-1/2 length victory.
Crescent Fashion finished second, while Honor And Serve was third. Crazshana, who won the first leg of the Graduate, was a hard-closing fourth.
“Lucky enough the eight-horse (Crazy Wow) made a break in the first turn and we got a cheap second-quarter,” said Mario Baillargeon. “Them good horses that’s all they need…it takes a real good one to beat them and I knew at the half he was going to be hard to beat.”
Musical Rhythm is undefeated this season on the WEG Circuit and now has 10 wins in 11 starts. He is owned by Santo and Nunzio Vena, Claude Hamel and Ben Baillargeon.
The son of Cantab Hall now has seasonal earnings of C$182,425 and is likely headed to Tioga Downs for his next start in the final preliminary leg of the Graduate. Musical Rhythm paid $6.10 to win.
The final preliminary leg of the Graduate Series is scheduled for next Sunday (June 12) at Tioga. The finals of the series are set for July 9 at The Meadowlands.
In other action Saturday (June 4) Shamballa rocketed from off the pace to win the $34,000 Preferred in 1:49.2.
The Rick Zeron trainee used his signature final-quarter kick to score his second win in three starts this season. The 2015 Canadian Horse of the Year State Treasurer finished second, while Nirvana Seelster was third.
Live racing resumes Monday night (June 6) at Mohawk Racetrack. Post time is 7:30 p.m.