CAMPBELLVILLE, May 9 – J Js Delivery brought his 'A' game Saturday night to Mohawk Racetrack to win a harness racing action-packed final of The Diplomat.
A field of nine three-year-old pacing colts and geldings clashed Saturday evening for the $60,000 final of The Diplomat series.
Fresh off a victory in leg two, The Wayfaring Man was sent off as the 4/5 favourite, while leg one winner J Js Delivery was the second choice at 5/2.
J Js Delivery and James MacDonald were the quickest off the gate and sprinted to the opening-quarter in a speedy :26.2. The Wayfaring Man and Jack Moiseyev wasted no time moving from fifth in the second-quarter to challenge the leader.
The pace was hot down the backstretch and The Wayfaring Man did not clear by J Js Delivery until reaching the half in :54.3. The public's choice kept the speed going by pacing a :27.4 third-quarter to get the field down to that station in 1:22.2.
In the stretch, J Js Delivery came off the rail for MacDonald to tango with The Wayfaring Man. The two favourites went toe-to-toe down the lane, but J Js Delivery had just a bit more fight and was able to edge by The Wayfaring Man to win in a career-best 1:50.1.
The Wayfaring Man finished a game second and was beat by a length and a quarter. American Rock finished third, while Good Friday Three was fourth.
J Js Delivery is trained Dave Menary for Robert Hamather and was the only horse in that final that did not race in the second leg. Following the race, MacDonald said he wanted to be near the front.
"He's got a lot of speed and I just wanted to get him up close," said MacDonald. "I thought if I could cut it he would be good or if I could find a good hole."
A son of Jeremes Jet, J Js Delivery now has four wins from six starts this season. Saturday's victory was the sixth of his career and pushes his career earnings to $98,686.
J Js Delivery paid $7.90 to win.
J Js Delivery
In order to be eligible to The Diplomat, the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings had to be non-winners of $100,000 in 2014.
Cast No Shadow comes up big in Princess final
Cast No Shadow turned in a stakes record performance to win the $59,600 Princess Series final Saturday night at Mohawk.
A field of six three-year-old pacing fillies lined up to contest the Princess final and on paper it appeared to be a three-horse race between leg one winner Moonlit Dance, leg two winner Maplelea and Cast No Shadow. The top three fillies on paper were the top three fillies Saturday night.
Moonlit Dance made a move from second to overtake the lead in the second-quarter, but was quickly confronted by Cast No Shadow and Chris Christoforou from third. Cast No Shadow cleared to the front just after the midway point of :55.2.
Around the final turn, Maplelea came first up from fifth to situate the top three fillies in the top three spots at the three-quarter pole in 1:23.2.
In the stretch, Cast No Shadow was able to put away the pressure from her rivals and paced on to a 1 ¾ length victory in a stakes record clocking of 1:50.4. Moonlit Dance was able to battle by Maplelea on the inside to finish second.
"I wanted to be in control coming around the last turn because I wanted to get away from Rick's (Zeron) filly, Maplelea," said Christoforou following the race. "She can sprint so fast, so when I heard them come he was about two or three lengths behind on the turn and I just pulled the trigger and hoped I could hold on."
A daughter of Shadow Play, Cast No Shadow is trained by Nick Gallucci for owner Millard Adams and now has a 2015 record of six wins from eight starts. The Princess Series final victory pushes her bankroll over $80,000.
Cast No Shadow returned $5.90 to win.
Cast No Shadow
In order to be eligible to the Princess Series, the three-year-old pacing fillies had to be non-winners of $100,000 in 2014.
