Mohawk holds Wellwood Memorial, Peaceful Way elims

The fields for the Peaceful Way and William Wellwood Memorial were decided on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park in a pair of harness racing eliminations for each Grand Circuit two-year-old pace event.

Tactical Dynasty (Tactical Landing) dominated the opening elimination of the William Wellwood Memorial for rookie trotting males.

Yannick Gingras sent the colt from third to the lead on the backstretch, and Tactical Dynasty kicked away by five lengths in the stretch for a 1:53.4 victory. Extended Session (James MacDonald) crossed the line second on a break in a four-across finish for place and therefore dropped to fifth by the judges.

Lookatmegoamigo (Jody Jamieson), Maryland (Dexter Dunn), and Warrior (Ake Svanstedt) were promoted to second, third, and fourth, respectively.

TACTICAL DYNASTY REPLAY

The winner is two-for-five in his rookie campaign for trainer Ron Burke with $83,973 in earnings. The colt won a leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes on Jul. 29 and finished third in the series final. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Phil Collura of Mountain Top, Lawrence Karr of Randolph, and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby of Ocean Ridge.

Emoticon Legacy (Walner) remained unbeaten as he prevailed in a photo in the second elimination.

The colt, campaigned by team Determination, rode the three-hole for James MacDonald, pulled out at the top of the stretch, and got by Nordic Catcher S (Svanstedt) late to win by a head in 1:56. Manforce (Jamieson) was third-best with Getastarfromthesky (Dunn) fourth and Southwind Caspian (Paul MacDonell) fifth.

EMOTICON LEGACY REPLAY

Emoticon Legacy was victorious on debut in the first leg of the Millard Farms but scratched out of the final. Luc Blais trains the freshman, who has now earned $25,000 in his pair of appearances.

The field for the $575,000 Wellwood Memorial Final is as follows:

1 – Extended Session (Walner – Moms Millionaire – Pine Chip)

2 – Emoticon Legacy (Walner – Emoticon Hanover – Kadabra)

3 – Manforce (Muscle Mass – Wishimaywishimight – Yankee Glide)

4 – Tactical Dynasty (Tactical Landing – Dynasty – Father Patrick)

5 – Southwind Caspian (Walner – Southwind Cabaret – Muscle Hill)

6 – Nordic Catcher S (Six Pack – That Women Hanover – Somebeachsomewhere)

7 – Warrior (Walner – Like A Lindy – Cantab Hall)

8 – Getastarfromthesky (Muscle Hill – Seviyorum – Donato Hanover)

9 – Maryland (Chapter Seven – Crucial – Father Patrick)

10 – Lookatmegoamigo (Muscle Mass – Lady Bling – Striking Sahbra)

Royal Mission (Chapter Seven) pulled off an 8-1 upset for trainer Marcus Melander in the first elimination of the Peaceful Way.

She sat the pocket behind Monalishi after ceding the lead on the first turn and grinded her down in the stretch drive, drawing a length-and-a-half clear to win in 1:54.3. R Charm (Bob McClure) finished third, followed by Lasting Dream (Chris Christoforou). HIghlandstarburst (Travis Cullen) was fifth.

ROYAL MISSION REPLAY

Royal Mission was coming off a maiden-breaking win in the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS). She hit the board in her previous three starts, all in the NYSS. Melander trains the rookie filly, a $390,000 Harrisburg purchase, for Jeff Snyder of New York.

R Dutchess (Father Patrick, Jody Jamieson) also snagged back-to-back wins as she battled to an upset victory in the second elimination.

The filly, third-over on the backstretch, came uncovered and advanced first-over going into the last turn. She chipped away with leader Champagne Problems (Dexter Dunn), scrapped with her down the lane, and pushed ahead to win by a neck in 1:53.1.

Champagne Problems was a game second. Margareta Hanover (Yannick Gingras) was in her own world as she secured the show spot with Medley Seelster (Bob McClure) and Entertain Me (Jonathan Drury) far back in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

R DUTCHESS REPLAY

R Dutchess is now two-for-four with $26,016 in earnings. She debuted for trainer John Butenschoen on Jul. 5 with a narrow place finish in the Kindergarten Series. M and L of Delaware is leasing the $300,000 Lexington Select purchase from Armitage Farm.

The draw was completed for the $390,000 final. The field is as follows:

1 – Champagne Problems (Tactical Landing – Miss Caviar – Sjs Caviar)

2 – R Dutchess (Father Patrick – The Ice Duchess – Muscle Hill)

3 – Royal Mission (Chapter Seven – Swinging Royalty – RC Royalty)

4 – R Charm (Propulsion – Jewels In Hock – Credit Winner)

5 – Highlandstarburst (Father Patrick – Highland Top Hill – Muscle Hill)

6 – Medley Seelster (Wheeling N Dealin – Daylon Melody – Pegasus Spur)

7 – Lasting Dream (Cantab Hall – Dream Together – Muscle Hill)

8 – Monalishi (Green Manalishi – Pretty Philly – RC Royalty)

9 – Margareta Hanover (Maharajah – Hot Mess Hanover – Cantab Hall)

10 – Entertain Me (Walner – Tric Trac – Trixton)

The finals for the William Wellwood Memorial and Peaceful Way are set for next Saturday.

Taurasi (Racing Hill) crushed his rivals in the $36,000 Preferred Pace. The gelding bottomed out the field in the third quarter for Dunn, driving clear by eight lengths, before cruising to victory over Meadowlands invader Oakwood Ardan Ir in 1:48.2. The latter closed nine lengths in the last eighth of a mile but was a length-and-a-half short. Jabberwocky (Trevor Henry) completed the triactor.

TAURASI REPLAY

It was Taurasi’s second straight win after he was beat in his return to Mohawk on Aug. 3. The Gregg McNair trainee has won his home track’s top class 11 times in 13 tries this season. He has won 23 of 48 career starts and has earned $657,346.

The next card at Woodbine Mohawk Park is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 19 with a first post of 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink