Hudon slams at Mohawk

After four straight seasons of fewer than 100 wins, harness racing driver Phil Hudon banked a four-win night on the fifth day of 2024 at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday (Jan. 5).

The reinsman was 0-for-3 to start the year but took eight horses to the gate on Friday. His first victory came with Chiefs Dream Girl (Sunshine Beach), whom Hudon sent on a first-over march from seventh on the backstretch. The mare stormed to the lead coming down the lane and held off the late-flying Free To Be Me (Tyler Jones) for the win in 1:52. The win brought the six-year-old’s career earnings past a quarter-million for trainer Jack Moiseyev.

CHIEFS DREAM GIRL REPLAY

Hudon made it back-to-back wins as he got Ultimate Speed (Artspeak) home in the fifth. He urged the mare three-wide on the turn to take the lead going to the quarter. She got every call from there in a two-and-a-half-length, 1:53.2 win. Her effort lowered her lifetime mark. The Nick Ahern-trained four-year-old is now three-for-33 lifetime.

ULTIMATE SPEED REPLAY

Hudon snagged the eighth with Id Imagine (Bettors Delight), reeling in a loose leader to get up by a head in 1:55.3. The win doubled the gelding’s career tally and gave him a new speed badge.

ID IMAGINE REPLAY

Yes Im Hungry (Stay Hungry) helped Hudon to the grand slam in the finale. The four-year-old sat third and remained on the plyons into the stretch. Hudon swung her to the outside, and the mare rocketed late to reach up for the victory in a three-across finish in 1:53.2. It was the four-year-old’s fourth lifetime win and her third in her last four starts. Blair Burgess trains her for Zoran Popovic.

YES IM HUNGRY REPLAY

Hudon is now four-for-11 on the season, already more than 10 per cent of the way to beating his 2023 win total.

Sylvain Filion tied Hudon with four wins of his own on the night.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will conclude its race week on Saturday, Jan. 6. Eleven dashes are scheduled on the card, featuring a $36,000 Preferred Pace. Racing will begin at 7:10 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink