Mohawk: Anndrovette proves tough, Evenin Of Pleasure posts shocker
Anndrovette proved the toughest once again fighting off a bitter challenge by Somwherovrarainbow to capture her third consecutive Roses Are Red final at Mohawk on Saturday night.
The brilliant seven-year-old daughter of Riverboat King left and allowed Rocklamation to get the lead early before assuming control past the :26 3/5 opening quarter. The 6-5 favorite was able to control the half in :54 3/5 before second-choice Somwherovrarainbow moved to the outside to challenge.
The pace picked up considerably with those two mares locking horns through the 1:21 4/5 three quarters. In the stretch Anndrovette appeared to be collared but driver Tim Tetrick refused to quit on her and the mare responded by regaining control near the wire and scoring her 39th career victory in 1:49 1/5.
“She hates to lose,” said Tetrick following the race.
Somwherovrarainbow finished second with Rocklamation holding on to the third spot.
Uffizi Hanover delivered as the 8-5 favorite in the $457,500 Fan Hanover final for driver David Miller. The daughter of Well Said made a sharp move up the backstretch for the lead but was overtaken by Nat A Virgin in short order. With fractions of :26, :54 4/5 and 1:23 2/5 Nat A Virgin was in control by a few lengths but Miller got Uffizi Hanover motivated and last year’s Breeders Crown winner rolled by late. Take That Hanover finished third in the 1:50 4/5 mile.
Jimmy Takter trains the filly that won for the second time in four starts as a three-year-old.
“She got out at the head of the stretch and just fired,” said Miller after the race. It was the second Fan Hanover title for Miller and the fourth for trainer Takter.
A son of Dragon Again captured the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup but it wasn’t Foiled Again. The four-year-old Evenin Of Pleasure, with Sylvain Filion in the bike, found room up the rail in deep stretch and knifed through at odds of 80-1 to overtake pacesetter Bettor’s Edge and Foiled Again near the wire in a 1:49 2/5 mile. Bettors Edge cut a well-rated pace in the Gold Cup and Foiled Again was able to wear him down late but neither could stop the second longest shot on the board from posting the biggest upset of the night.
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