Upset in $48,100 Harvest Series Final

Starlight Dancer (Artspeak) took her first harness racing win since August in a 12-1 upset in the Ontario-sired Harvest Series Final for three-year-old pacing fillies on Friday (Nov. 24) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Travis Cullen took her lines for the first time and directed her to the front from post three. She led to the first station in :28 before Honey Love (Bob McClure), and then favourite Godiva Shadow Girl (James MacDonald), circled her before the half in :56.4.

Starlight Dancer launched her second move as the field came into the final turn, and she edged ahead of Godiva Shadow Girl at three-quarters in 1:25.2. Starlight Dancer worked clear of her in the stretch, but pocket-sitter Honey Love and Premier Delight (Jody Jamieson) kept on the new leader’s tail into the last eighth of a mile. Starlight Dancer resisted the final surge of Premier Delight and held on by a half-length in 1:54.2.

Premier Delight was the quickest closer home for second. Honey Love finished third.

STARLIGHT DANCER REPLAY

Starlight Dancer’s victory was her fourth lifetime in 24 starts for owner/breeder 1187422 Ontario Inc. and trainer Melissa Lamoreux. The filly is two-for-16 this year and lowered her lifetime mark with Friday’s win. She has earned $149,311.

Annabelle Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere, Sylvain Filion) took the night’s Fillies and Mares Preferred-2 to go back-to-back since moving to Canada. The mare, in similar fashion to Starlight Dancer, led to the quarter, marched from third on the final turn, and powered to the front. She put up 1:51.2 on the teletimer as she scored by a length-and-three-quarters over favourite Dabarndawgswatchin. Goudawon (Trevor Henry) was third.

ANNABELLE HANOVER REPLAY

Annabelle Hanover had been racing at Yonkers and Harrah’s Philadelphia for most of the past two seasons for trainer Jeff Cullipher. Stonebridge Farm of London acquired the six-year-old on Nov. 10 and sent her to Gregg McNair. She won her Woodbine Mohawk Park debut last week in her 26th tally from 122 lifetime appearances. The mare has raked in $576,593 across her career.

Another Harvest Series Final and a Preferred Pace are on tap for the next card on Saturday, Nov. 24. The card will begin at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink