Taurasi beats favourite for sixth consecutive Preferred

Taurasi (Racing Hill) prevailed over the hyped Soaring Now the $36,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Feb. 24) for his sixth straight top-level harness racing victory.

The two horses sparred in the first panel with Taurasi (Doug McNair) circling Soaring Now (James MacDonald) to lead at the quarter in :27.4. The field went single-file through the half in :56.1 into the far turn when Poseidon Seelster (Tyler Moore) pulled out nearing three-quarters in 1:24.

Taurasi came down the lane in front with Poseidon Seelster attacking on his outside and Soaring Now bottled up in the pocket. It came down to Taurasi and Soaring Now in the final metres as the latter slipped up the pylons, but Taurasi handily held him off with three-quarters-of-a-length to spare in 1:50.4.

Soaring Now was second. The fading Poseidon Seelster held third.

TAURASI REPLAY

Taurasi is now perfect in four outings on the season and has won six straight Preferred events at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The gelding, a Grand Circuit competitor for much of last year, races for trainer Richard Moreau. Brad Grant of Milton and Alagna Racing of Jackson own the five-year-old, who has now banked $473,321 and won 16 times in 35 starts.

McNair ended the day with four wins.

Next week’s racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park kicks off on Monday, Feb. 26 at 7:10 p.m. EST. A $36,000 Preferred features on the 10-race card.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink