So Much More toughest in Preferred-2

So Much More (Big Jim) hung on to complete a hard-fought harness racing victory in the $32,000 Preferred-2 Pace against male opponents on Saturday (Apr. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

She declined to contest the pace for James MacDonald but ranged up two-wide to take the three-hole on the first turn. The Longest Yard (Louis-Philippe Roy) took the field to the quarter in :26.2, and So Much More kicked off a rally as the former reached the half in :55.3.

So Much More reached the leader quickly and poked her nose in front at three-quarters in 1:23.4. The Longest Yard capitulated midway down the lane, leaving the race in the hands of So Much More. American History caught fire at the pylons and closed in coming the wire, but So Much More crossed the line with her head in front to win in 1:51.3.

American History finished second. Roll With The Flow (Bob McClure) was third.

SO MUCH MORE REPLAY

So Much More, Canada’s 2022 Aged Pacing Mare of the Year, has now won back-to-back top-level dashes and five of them this year. He has 62 career victories and $1,351,095 in earnings in 136 starts. Don Beatson trains the seven-year-old and co-owns her with Kenneth Beatson of Palgrave and Cole England of Exeter.

Also on the card, Camara Moment (Control The Moment, McNair) won the final preliminary leg of the Ontario-sired Graduate Series. The gelding went wire-to-wire in the third leg for open pacers in 1:51.4, his first win of the series. He also survived an inquiry into a possible pylon violation. Ron (Phil Hudon) held onto second over the game Kolby Two Step (MacDonald). Absent was the winner of the first two rounds, Cold Creek Queso.

CAMARA MOMENT REPLAY

Camara Moment is now seven-for-12 this season. He won the Snowshoe Series in February. The Richard Moreau-trained gelding has tallied 12 victories in 26 career outings and has earned $167,510. Mickey Sudar of Hagersville, Brenton Harris of Newcastle, James Borke of Old Bridge, and Dewitt Stables of Port Perry own the gelding.

The stage is now set for the $75,000A finals of the Ontario-sired Graduate Series. The four-year-old open pacers, open trotters, and pacing mares will spar on Saturday, May 6 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

McNair, including the Graduate Series score, won five races on the card. He tasted success with Ikes Dream (Bettors Delight, 1:55), Camara Moment, Cadillac Bayama (Sunshine Beach, 1:51.4), The Legend Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere, 1:51.3), and Fabrizio N (Sweet Lou, 1:53).

The next program at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday, May 1, will feature a $36,000 Free For All for trotters. First post is set for 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink