Casual Breeze splits to Amazone Duharas, HP Mama B

MILTON, ON – September 3, 2021 – Grand Circuit harness racing action continued Friday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park with the Casual Breeze for three-year-old trotting fillies.

A pair of $75,400 divisions were contested with seven-horse fields in each.

The opening division saw Amazone Duharas power by Hawaii in the final strides to win the first division for driver Louis Philippe Roy and trainer Denis Gueriel.

Sent off at 5-1, Amazone Duharas shot out to the early lead, posting a :27.4 opener, before Hawaii looped around to grab command. The new leader posted fractions of :57.2 and 1:25.4. In the stretch, Hawaii got a bit of separation on her two-hole challenger, but Amazone Duharas was in full flight late to muscle by for a victory of a length in 1:53.4.

Dicentra was third, while You Will Be Queen was fourth.

A daughter of Muscle Hill, Amazone Duharas was making her first stakes appearance of the season after winning two of six starts early this year. The Casual Breeze score gives her three wins and $78,080 earned for Haras De L’Estrie Inc.

AMAZONE DUHARAS REPLAY

“I’m stabled at the same barn as Denis Gueriel and they’ve done a pretty good job with her,” said Roy post-race. “Earlier in the season she had a little bit of issues and instead of just pushing her they gave her a little bit of time and took more time with her and since she’s came back now she’s been improving every start so it paid off for them and I’m happy for them.”

A $2 win ticket on Amazone Duharas returned $13.60.

HP Mama B posted a coast-to-coast 1:53.4 victory in the second division for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Ben Baillargeon.

A first-turn break by top contender Donna Soprano left the favourite HP Mama B in full control. Filion posted a snappy opening-quarter of :26.3 before getting a second-quarter breather in :30.3. HP Mama B took the field to three-quarters in 1:26 and then trotted home in :27.4 to win comfortably by a length and quarter over Imextraspecial.

Up And Ready was third, while Dashing Muscle was fourth.

The Ontario Sires Stakes star HP Mama B has now won three starts in a row to improve her three-year-old record to five for eight. The daughter of Royalty For Life now sports career numbers of 10 wins and $333,987 earned for owners Guylaine Picard and Celine Paquin.

HP MAMA B REPLAY

“Shes a pretty decent mare, she’s a nice mare,” said Baillargeon, who also bred the filly. “She’s big and strong and she trained real good this week and I told Sylvain before the race ‘she’s strong, she’s good’ and he got the job done…had to leave :26.3 and then Sylvain did the rest and when he asked her to go she went, :27.4 at the end.”

A $2 win ticket on HP Mama B returned $4.40.

The Grand Circuit action continues Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a stakes-filled rich program. The Canadian Pacing Derby, Maple Leaf Trot and Pepsi North America Cup eliminations headline a 13-race card. Post time is 7 p.m.

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Entertainment