Perfetto hangs tough in $36,000 Preferred Trot

Perfetto and driver Dagfin Henriksen were able to hang game to the wire in capturing the $36,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park Monday evening.

The 8th race feature saw Henriksen send the 3/2 wagering favorite Perfetto out to the early lead with Pikachu Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy) grabbing the pocket-seat as they sped to the opening quarter mile in :28.

Perfetto led the field past the half mile in :58.3. Then in the backstretch, Bob McClure took Oney Hall first-over with Patriarch Hanover (Doug McNair) getting the second-over cover.

Past the three-quarters in 1:27, Oney Hall went off-stride. As the rest of the field came down the stretch, Perfetto and Henriksen were tough to the wire, winning by a slim neck over a late rushing Dream Nation (Scott Young) and Patriarch Hanover third.

PERFETTO REPLAY

It was the first win in four starts this year for Perfetto. The seven-year-old gelding by Majestic Son is trained by Henriksen and owned by Gerald Haggerty of Camden East, ON and paid $5.00 to win.

The fifth race pace was the $25,000 final of the Pop-Up Series for $15,000 claimers and Heresthatmanagain with driver Colin Kelly were able to steal the show.

It was The Amaziningsando and driver James MacDonald who started off on the early lead with Heresthatmanagain coming after them and taking control after a :28.2 opening quarter mile.

Then it was the 8/5 race favorite, Mayhem Like Me and driver Bob McClure flying up on the outside to take command before the half mile in :57.4.

Going first-over in the backstretch was Perpetual Rock (Austin Sorrie) with Hello Rocky (Pat Hudson) coming second-over as the field past the three-quarters in 1:27.1 and boxing in Heresthatmanagain.

As they were coming down the stretch, Colin Kelly had waited patiently with Heresthatmanagain for an opening to get out of the two-hole and once that opening came they shot out after Mayhem Like Me and collared them right before the wire to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.1. Mayhem Like Me held for second with The Amazingsando third.

HERESTHATMANAGAIN REPLAY

It was the second straight win on the year and a lifetime mark for Heresthatmanagain, a five-year-old gelding by Warrawee Needy. He is trained by Kyle Bossence for owner Darryl Newbigging of Komoka, Ontario and paid $7.40 to win. He was claimed after his victory last week and paid nice dividends to his new owner.

For full race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink