Ayeaye Captain Deo breaks maiden in Dream Maker

Woodbine Mohawk Park held another 11-dash harness racing card Friday (Aug. 2) evening which features the second leg of the Dream Maker.

Only a field of five pacing two-year-old fillies went to post for the $20,000 Dream Maker. Nova Blu (Louis-Phillipe Roy) left right off the gate and took the early lead. There was no pressure on her until after the 27.2 opening quarter. Right as the field swung down the backstretch, Take Out Hanover (Doug McNair) popped out to make the move.

Ayeaye Captain Deo followed suit and as soon as Take Out Hanover cleared, she pounced on the chance to take the lead herself. Ayeaye Captain Deo (Captaintrecherous) had a sole position of the lead at the half-mile station. She set middle fractions of 56.0 and 1:24.3 as she continued to grow her lead. She put her foot on the gas and finished off with a 27.2 last quarter. The clock stopped at 1:52 for what was Ayeaye Captain Deo’s first career win.

Nova Blu held onto second place while Take Out Hanover was third.

AYEAYE CAPTAIN DEO REPLAY

Ayeaye Captain Deo has finished in the top three in all three of her career starts. In her last appearance, she finished second place in the first leg of the Dream Maker. Sylvain Filion was in the bike and it was his only win on the card. Garry Merner scored the trainer exactor in the race with his other entry Nova Blu finishing second.

There were also two splits for the third leg of the ONSS Grassroots for three-year-old pacing fillies. The first division kicked off the card and had a field of nine. A brief three-wide battle for the front end took place right off the bat. At 73-1, Wicked Leader (Sylvain Filion) had the lead for a short moment until Collusion Hanover (Louis-Phillipe Roy) cleared while on the first turn. Pasta Delight (James Macdonald) was caught two wide until after the turn. The opening quarter was clocked at 26.3.

While feeling the pace slowly, How Much (All Bets Off) made the move from fourth and shot right up to the lead. The middle fractions we 55.2 and 1:22.3 as How Much began to take off from the rest of the pack. Even with a big lead, she finished off with a 27-second last quarter and won the race in 1:49.3.

Margogotthecargo (Bob McClure) came from way back to secure second place and Make Out With Me (Jonathan Drury) followed right behind for third.

HOW MUCH REPLAY

This was the sixth career win for How Much and the fifth of the year. She had back-to-back second-place finishes coming into this one and posting a new lifetime mark was certainly the bounceback she needed. David Menary trains the three-year-old filly. Doug McNair was in the bike and he picked up his first of two wins on the night.

The second split was a few races later in the sixth and it had a similar start with a pair of pacers battling for the early lead. This time it was Ann (Bob McClure) and Bonitas Best Bet (James Macdonald) that were neck and neck early on. Ann had the inside position which forced Bonitas Best Bet to a harder two-wide trip. She did clear just before hitting the backstretch and posted an opening quarter of 26.3.

It wasn’t very long before Ann got bored in the pocket and needed the front end again.  She held the lead while passing the half in 55.2 and the three-quarters in 1:23.2. The sprint home was on and everyone in the field looked to have a chance. One More Bet (All Bets Off) found some space to charge home in 27.3 and won with a mile time of 1:51.3.

We Meet Again (Trevor Henry) briefly held the lead down the stretch but fell to second. Right Match (Sylvain Filion) snuck up and claimed third.

ONE MORE BET REPLAY

One More Bet claimed her second win of the year and fifth of her career. The mile time was even good enough to be her new personal best. The Quebec foaled and owned pacer is trained by Jean Tourigny and Louis-Phillipe Roy was in the bike.

Action resumes at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Aug. 3) at 7:10 p.m. EDT with another 10-dash card. 

For complete race results, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink