by Greg Gangle – WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — The first leg of the Beat The Heat Pacing Series was contested in three C$18,000 divisions on Saturday evening at Mohawk Racetrack.

In the final division, The Ladies Man, driven by Mike Saftic, scored an eye-catching 1:49.2 career best as he took the fastest division.

Bestinthebusiness (Luc Ouellette) was the first leader as he took command before the opening station in :26.2.

The lead would not last long heading towards the half as College Major (Randy Waples) pocket-pulled his way to the front, before being looped by The Ladies Man before the mid-way point in :54.

The Jim Ritchie-trainee would continue to lead past three-quarters in 1:22, before dashing away from his rivals down the stretch to score a comfortable win. Bestinthebusiness finished second with Thats The Life (Billy Davis Jr.) third.

Ritchie also co-owns the 7-year-old son of Modern Art with Paul Ritchie and Murray Cox. The 22-time winner increased his bankroll to C$338,380.

Earlier on the card in the first division, Silver Eagle (Randy Waples) found the wire first in 1:50.

The son of Brandons Cowboy was the quickest to the front before the opening station in :26.3. Windfall Blue Chip (Keith Oliver) was in the pocket with Frankies Dragon (Sylvain Filion) third.

Oliver elected to pocket-pull before the half with Windfall Blue Chip as he was sent to be the new leader at the mid-way point in :55.3.

Around the final turn, Frankies Dragon began the first-over attack with Silver Eagle in the pocket. Frankies Dragon and Windfall Blue Chip matched strides past three-quarters in 1:22.4 and continued to battle down the stretch.

Waples was able to angle his charge off the pylons and Silver Eagle made the most of his trip as he got up in the final strides to score the win. Frankies Dragon finished second with Windfall Blue Chip third.

Trained by Ben Wallace for Holland Racing Stable, Silver Eagle increased his career bankroll to $335,604. The five-year-old gelding enjoyed his second victory of the season and 22nd lifetime. He paid $11.80 to win.

Rhombus provided the 7/2 minor upset as he earned his second victory of the season in the second division for Scott Zeron.

Astute (Chris Christoforou) was quickest to the front before the opening panel in :27.1. Ciona Bromach (Jack Moiseyev) was in the pocket with Rhombus sitting third.

Rhombus didn’t sit long as Zeron angled him out of third and to the front before the half in :1:22.4.

From there, the 5-year-old son of The Panderosa lead past three-quarters in 1:22.4 and fought of all challengers to earn his tenth career score for trainer Tony Alagna. Astute finished second, with Ciona Bromach third.

Owned by Cheap Speed Stable, VIP Internet Stable LLC and Minisink Farms LLC, Rhombus increased his bankroll to C$142,614.

The series is for 4-year-olds and younger that are non-winners of $25,000 in 2013 as of May 31 (winners over $100,000 in 2012 are not eligible).

The second C$18,000 leg of the Beat The Heat Pacing Series continues Saturday, May 29 with the C$40,000 final slated for Saturday, July 6.