Western Wish topples Need To Breathe in Preferred upset

Western Wish (Betterthancheddar) ended the three-week Fillies and Mares Preferred reign of Need To Breathe in the $32,000 Friday (Jan. 20) renewal of the harness racing class at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The pair were one-two from the quarter-mile marker to the stretch, with Need To Breathe (Travis Cullen) showing the way though :27.4, :57.3, and 1:25.3 fractions. Dabarndawgswatchin (Louis-Philippe Roy) failed to threaten from first-over on the far turn.

Austin Sorrie held Western Wish to the pylons as Need To Breathe drifted out in the lane, and the pocket sitter pulled clear in the final eighth of a mile to win in 1:53.1.

Need To Breathe was a length-and-half behind at the line. Dabarndawgswatchin finished third.

WESTERN WISH REPLAY

Western Wish was stepping up sharply in class. She won at Mohawk in a middle-tier conditioned contest on Dec. 30 and was third and second at the same level on Jan. 7 and Jan. 14. The five-year-old is now 18-for-63 lifetime and has earned $337,479. Carmen Auciello trains the mare for Aaron Waxman of Carlisle, Santo Vena of Cedar Valley, and Nunzio Vena of Bolton.

Also on the card, Style For A Mile (Captaintreacherous) scored for her first Canadian win. The four-year-old mare competed in the eastern United States last season, finishing third in the Kentucky Commonwealth Series final and winning the Corbin Sires Stakes final under Tony Alagna. She has earned $125,000 and won 6 times in 20 career attempts. Richard Moreau now trains the four-year-old mare for Bottom Line Racing LLC and Brad Grant.

The male free-for-allers will feature on Saturday’s card at Woodbine Mohawk Park. With Need To Breathe’s streak ended, Saulsbrook Victor will look to one-up her by making it four straight in the $34,000 contest. First post on the 12-race card is 7:00 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink