Lyons Sentinel unstoppable in Milton

Lyons Sentinel extended her winning streak to six as she captured the $240,000 Milton Stakes for filly and mare harness racing pacers on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Tim Tetrick tucked the Captaintreacherous mare into fourth as Rocknificent (Scott Zeron) blazed to the lead in a :26.2 first quarter mile. Lyons Sentinel, the 1/5 favourite, launched first over at three-eighths and closed down Rocknificent as they concluded a :54.4 half.

Lyons Sentinel crossed over into the leading position as the field greeted the final turn and faced pressure from Gias Surreal (Bob McClure), who left the three-hole. Tetrick removed his charge’s plugs turning for home, and Lyons Sentinel outkicked her challengers to score in 1:49.2.

Rocknificent and Gias Surreal came home in second and third, respectively. The win price was $2.50.

Tetrick said the brush to the front was unlike her usual style, but it worked out.

“I raced her differently than I normally do, I like her better in tracking position,” Tetrick said post-race. “I didn’t want to be first-up from the three-eighths pole and have to go against a great mare – Rocknificent – so I took my shot. When she’s on the lead, she starts looking at butterflies and looking up in the air and stuff, but she’s a champion, she figures it out, and she put her head down and got the job done.”

LYONS SENTINEL REPLAY

James King trains Lyons Sentinel for Threelyonsracing of Brantford. The mare has won all of her last six starts and is eight-for-14 on the season, which includes victories in the Roses Are Red, Lady Liberty, and Clara Barton Memorial. She has won 20 times and has earned $1,932,472 in her 42-race career.

“She’s been super from day one, from two ’til four,” Tetrick said. “Last year she just (very unluckily) ran into Party Girl Hill – that just shows you how great that mare was, she was second to her all the time. With (Party Girl Hill) out of the picture, (Lyons Sentinel) just looks like the top. She’s been racing good all three years. She’s definitely on her game right now, and she’s doing everything we’re asking her to do.”

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink