Camara Moment breaks 1:50 in New Holland opener

Camara Moment (Control The Moment) prevailed in a hard-fought stretch harness racing battle to set a new lifetime mark, breaking 1:50 for the first time, and win the second $30,000 division of the first leg of the New Holland Pacing Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Mar. 11).

The gelding sat the pocket behind Southbeach Hanover (Bob McClure), who set a :27.3 and :55.4 tempo. Doug McNair rolled Camara Moment out of the pocket while bending into the stretch and clashed with the leader through three-quarters in 1:23.3.

Southbeach Hanover clawed back some edge rounding into the stretch, and The Longest Yard (Jonathan Drury) flew three-wide from third. Camara Moment dispatched the pacesetter halfway down the lane and turned focus to The Longest Yard, who was bearing down on the outside. The latter closed to the wire, but Camara Moment held him a head short and stopped the teletimer in 1:49.4.

Mad Man Hill (Jody Jamieson) out-finished Southbeach Hanover to take the final spot in the triactor.

CAMARA MOMENT REPLAY

It was the 11th career victory in 21 starts for Camara Moment. The four-year-old has earned $145,760. Richard Moreau trains him for Mickey Sudar of Hagersville, Brenton Harris of Newcastle, James Borke of Old Bridge, and Dewitt Stables of Port Perry.

Nautical Hanover (Captaintreacherous, James MacDonald) captured the first division. The stallion pulled third over on the final turn and jetted from last to first for the victory in 1:50.3. Favourite Ario Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy) was second by half a length. Woodmere Stealdeal (Drury) finished third.

NAUTICAL HANOVER REPLAY

Nautical Hanover raced in Ontario in Summer 2021, finishing second in the Dream Maker, before competing in the Grand Circuit in the U.S. He returned to the province for new owner Richard Berthiaume in December and transferred from Tony Alagna to Benoit Baillargeon. The four-year-old is six-for-34 with a bankroll of $262,827.

The next leg of the New Holland Pacing Series is scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 18 with the $60,000A final a week later.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will continue action on Monday, Mar. 13 with a 7:00 p.m. EDT first post. The second leg of the New Holland Trotting Series headlines the 12 races on offer.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink