Mount Miki just in time at Woodbine

Article content

The finish line arrived just in time for Venerable. The two-year-old filly won her second Grand Circuit jackpot of the month at Woodbine Mohawk Park, taking home the $ 1 million Mohawk Million on Saturday.

Article content

Driven by David Miller, Venerable found her way to the front halfway down the stretch. She faced slight pressure around the corner and then a final stretch surge from the long shot Duly Resolved. But Venerable took the opportunity to win by a head at 1:54 3/5 as the 4-5 favorite.

“I can’t explain the game, how tough it is,” Miller said. “Her heart and guts led her to the wire.”

“My game plan was to go off and get in the way somewhere. But it wasn’t working that way. It was a quick first quarter, but he got a smooth middle half. “

Trained by Nifty Norman, Venerable is now eight of eight this year, including a win two weeks ago at Peaceful Way. It was the second race of the Mohawk Million, a unique race in which nine starting spots sell for $ 100,000 each and the last spot goes to the winner of the William Welwood Memorial.

Article content

Two other two-year-olds took part in big money races at Mohawk on Saturday. Mount Miki loaded from the back of a 12-horse field to win the $ 824,000 Metro Pace. Starting from behind the door in 11th place meant that driver Scott Zeron needed a lot of patience on this one. Mount Miki was eleventh entering the last corner. A couple of horses broke the path, but he was able to avoid any danger. Still ninth on the stage, he charged to hit Wearinmysixshooter, who had drifted away from the rest of the group, in a deep stretch to win in 1:52 2/5.

“I probably moved my horse three times before the half because there was a lot of action,” Zeron said. “I thought for sure that he was going to be the second because he responded well.”

“Probably on the last eighth of a mile I thought I was going to catch up.”

Article content

Coached by Mark Evers, Monte Miki is perfect in four starts, having raced his first three times at Ohio.

Niki Hill outpointed Prohibition Legal in an undefeated filly battle to win $ 500,500 She’s a Great Lady. Driven by Dexter Dunn, Niki Hill took command down the stretch and briefly lost the lead to her rival before working her way back to a one-length victory in 1:50 2/5. It was the fifth victory for the two-year-old filly owned by Tom Hill of Hamilton.

Additionally, four-year-old mare Lyons Sentinel took home the $ 240,000 Milton Stakes with Tim Tetrick driving in 1:49 2/5. He had won the Roses Are Red Stakes earlier in the month. The $ 157,000 Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old trotters went to the 13-1 Inaminute Hanover with a long throw with Louis-Philippe Roy leading in 1:52 4/5.

DOUBLE UP: Jockey Rafael Hernandez swept both bets at Woodbine on Saturday, both up front. First, Miss Speedy went all the way in the $ 141,300 Duchess Stakes for coach Mark Casse. Then Pink Lloyd took home the $ 168,900 Bold Venture Stakes. It was the 27th victory in the career of the nine-year-old Bob Tiller’s apprentice.