Cool Clifford captures another Pop-Up leg

Cool Clifford (Kadabra) completed a preliminary leg harness racing sweep of the trotting Pop-Up Series on Monday (Jun. 13) at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a victory aided by a rival’s break in the first division.

The six-year-old trotter established a lead that lasted until Overserved (Jody Jamieson) rolled by at the quarter in :27.4. Bob McClure ordered an immediate retake from Cool Clifford, and he was back in control quickly.

Cool Clifford set the half time of :57.1 but quickened to three-quarters in 1:26 as Lestenpercent (Sylvain Filion) launched a first-over assault. Lestenpercent put significant pressure on the leader down the lane but broke stride at the eighth pole, and Cool Clifford cruised home from there to win in 1:54.4.

Overserved finished second. Shoshie Deo (Trevor Henry) made up five positions in the stretch to be third. The winner paid $3.30.

COOL CLIFFORD REPLAY

Cool Clifford’s pair of wins in the Pop-Up Series have been his only two in 15 starts this season. Gabriella Sasso trains the gelding for Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga and Jeff Courchesne of Cambridge. The horse is 14-for-93 lifetime and has now earned $276,040.

Westfiftysecond (My Mvp) scored in the second division.

The six-year-old gelding made a third-quarter brush from fourth and trotted away by four-and-a-half lengths in the stretch for a 1:55.1 win for Henry. Mystic (Chris Christoforou) finished second over Shes Got Pizazz (McClure). The win price was $4.70.

WESTFIFTYSECOND REPLAY

Westfiftysecond crossed $200,000 in earnings with the victory. He has won 10 of his 105 lifetime appearances and now holds a two-race winning streak after scoring in lifetime-best time on May 26. Darcy Clancy, a resident of Odessa, trains the gelding and co-owns with Walter Clancy of Napanee and Ryan Alport of Kingston.

The final for the Pop-Up Series for trotters is scheduled for Monday, Jun. 20.

The next card at Woodbine Mohawk Park will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jun. 14.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink