Former Breeders Crown champ romps in Boxing Day Preferred

Amigo Volo (Father Patrick) cruised to a four-and-a-quarter-length harness racing victory in the $36,000 on the Boxing Day matinee card at a foggy Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Tyler Borth had the lines as Amigo Volo carved out :26.4, :56.3, and 1:26 fractions on the lead. Off the soft middle half, the gelding sprinted away from the field as they came down the stretch. He extended the cushion with every stride and stopped the clock in 1:53.3 for the victory. Oney Hall (James MacDonald) caught Truffles Too (Trevor Henry) for place.

AMIGO VOLO REPLAY

Amigo Volo has won two Preferred events and hasn’t missed the board in nine top-level starts since he moved to Woodbine Mohawk Park in September. Meg Crone trains the double-millionaire for Pinske Stables of Plato and David Miller of Lake Mary. Amigo Volo, a six-year-old two-time Breeders Crown champ, is now 31-for-84 lifetime and has earned $2,365,046.

Crone got another big win later in the afternoon as her Alabama Hannah (Huntsville) captured the $33,000 Niagara Series Final for three-year-old pacing fillies. Alabama Hannah made her way to the top in a :26.2 first panel and rebuffed the advancing Yoda Queen (Andy Moore) into the pocket. Alabama Hannah was in command the half in :55.3 three-quarters in 1:25.1 and stretched away in the lane, closing out the win in 1:52.4 with two-and-a-half lengths in hand. Yoda Queen was second over Ladyterra (Borth).

ALABAMA HANNAH REPLAY

The win made it a Niagara Series sweep for Alabama Hannah, who took both preliminary legs. The filly, previously trained by Nik Drennan until being laid off in July, debuted for the Crone barn in November with a win. She has seven career wins in 20 starts and a bankroll of $98,468. Jeffery Nanna of Utica owns the three-year-old.

The Niagara’s twin series for males, the Valedictory, went to Speaker Of Peace (Artspeak), in an 11-1 upset. He reached the top just past the quarter for Bob McClure but let Come On Artie (Scott Young) take over approaching the midway point in :56. Heavy favourite Saulsbrook Ian (MacDonald) brushed to the lead around the far turn, and Speaker Of Peace slid out behind him approaching three-quarters in 1:23.3. Saulsbrook Ian led at the top of the lane, but Speaker Of Peace whittled away coming into the latter stages. Saulsbrook Ian began to waver approaching the line, and Speaker Of Peace rolled by to score by a half-length in 1:51.1. Lets Go Jude (Borth) completed the ticket.

SPEAKER OF PEACE REPLAY

It was the third win in 22 starts for Speaker Of Peace and came with a new lifetime mark. William McClure, the driver’s uncle, owns and trains the gelding. Speaker Of Peace skipped a week after placing in the first leg but has currently gone seven starts without an off-the-board finish. He has now earned $72,450.

The next card at Woodbine Mohawk Park is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 28. Post time will return to the regular 7:10 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink