by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — The Wayfaring Man and Star Cover scored round two victories in The Diplomat series Saturday night (May 2) at Mohawk Racetrack.

A total of 12 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings were split into two C$20,000 divisions for the second leg of the three-week Diplomat series. J Js Delivery, the winner of leg one, did not enter round two, leaving the door open for some fresh blood to get on the scoreboard.

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The Wayfaring Man and Jack Moiseyev were 1:51.4 winners.

In the first division, Pepsi North America Cup eligible The Wayfaring Man used a solid :26.4 final quarter to get his first victory of the season.

Driven by Jack Moiseyev, The Wayfaring Man made a second-quarter brush to the lead from fourth and reached the half in :56.2. After reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:25, The Wayfaring Man hit his best stride in the lane to cruise home and win by 2-1/2 lengths in a career-best 1:51.4. Nobettorplacetobe, who got a two-hole trip, finished second, while Good Friday Three, another Pepsi North America Cup eligible, finished third.

A son of Dragon Again, The Wayfaring Man is trained by Nicky Comegna and owned by Bruno Comegna. The sophomore pacing colt finished fourth in his season’s debut last week and now sports a career record of three wins from nine starts. The Wayfaring Man’s career bankroll now exceeds C$61,000. The Comegna trainee returned $3.80 to win.

In the second division, Star Cover came out on top of a stretch duel with Dialamara in 1:52.1.

Dialamara flashed early speed to take the lead, while Star Cover and driver Doug McNair took a seat in the two-hole. Those two pacers would sit one-two through fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25.

Star Cover popped the pocket coming off the final turn to engage in a battle with the leader. Dialamara was game along the inside, but Star Cover had just a bit more and edged by in deep stretch to prevail by a neck. Windsong Lightning finished just a length back in third.

A son of Royal Mattjesty, Star Cover is co-owned and trained by Blake MacIntosh. The sophomore pacing colt finished third in his season’s debut in last week’s first leg. Star Cover now has four wins from 12 career starts and earnings of more than C$60,000 for owners MacIntosh, Stuart McIntosh and Brett Authier. The clocking of 1:52.1 established a new career mark for the 3-year-old pacer. Star Cover paid $6.90 to win.

In order to be eligible to The Diplomat, the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings had to be non-winners of C$100,000 in 2014. The final of The Diplomat will take place next Saturday (May 9) and will be contested for a purse of C$60,000.