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Matthew Trelford recorded his first win as a harness racing trainer with his filly Lastkickathecan (Wheeling N Dealin) in the second Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday (Aug. 21).
Lastkickathecan circled the field to do so. Louis-Philippe Roy started the filly seventh and moved her out on the backstretch while being backsteamed to last. She hit her stride approaching the far turn, entering the stretch third-over, and barreled past five rivals in the last eighth of a mile for the victory in 1:56. Sweet Determination (Doug McNair) sustained a first-up trip to finish second. Northern Charlotte (Bob McClure) led much of the way and held onto third. The winner went off at 12-1.
LASTKICKATHECAN REPLAY
The win was Lastkickathecan’s sixth of the year and her career. Trelford has owned her since May and made his first start as a conditioner when he took over her training two starts back. The filly was two-for-two in the Prospect Series before stepping up to the Grassroots on Monday. She has earned $43,950 in her 11 lifetime appearances.
Pretty Special (Resolve) captured the first division of the Grassroots. Recently-minted Hall-of-Famer Chris Christoforou set the filly on a first-over course entering the far turn, and she produced the best late kick to score in 1:55.4. She blew by Shiny New Penny (James MacDonald) and Match Meif You Can (McNair) in the stretch; they finished second and third, respectively.
PRETTY SPECIAL REPLAY
It was Pretty Special’s first win of the season in seven tries. Camilla Christoforou trains the filly, who is now two-for-14 lifetime with $69,076 in earnings, for Brad Grant of Milton. Pretty Special started the season at the OSS Gold level and dropped down for the Monday start.
Northern Charlotte leads the division after four legs for three-year-old trotting fillies. The fifth – and final – preliminary leg is set for Sep. 9 at Hanover Raceway. The semi-final will take place on Sep. 22 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, followed by the final eight days later.
Woodbine Mohawk Park resumes racing on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
For complete race results, click here.
by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink
