Mohawk: Betting Line, Lyons Snyder score in Somebeachsomewhere Stakes

Race favorites Betting Line and Lyons Snyder didn't disappoint in the C$75,000 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, winning in 1:50 1/5 and 1:49, respectively.

With Jonathan Drury in the bike, Betting Line got away fourth at the 27 1/5 opening quarter, then tracked the cover of American Passport (Scott Zeron) to the top at the 55 2/5 half. Betting Line would go on to reach three-quarters in 1:23 3/5, and then held serve through the stretch to win by half a length over American Passport. American Passport showed good speed inside the final sixteenth and was gaining all the way to the wire. Michael's Victory (Sylvain Filion) would finish third.

Casie Coleman trains Betting Line, a Bettor's Delight colt, for owners West Wins Stable, Chris Calhoun, and Mac Nichol, all of Ontario. This was the eighth career victory for Betting Line, who has earned just under $500,000 in his career. He returned $2.80 as the 2-5 choice.

"I'm never disappointed with a win, but he was a bit worked up in the paddock tonight. I actually had to move his paddock stall down to the end of the paddock, and he took a little bit of his race out of himself before we went to the gate tonight," said Coleman. "He won, so obviously I'm happy with him, but he's a little better than what he was tonight, and we'll get that rectified for next week.

"He's coming to the North America Cup perfect. I couldn't be any happier with the schedule coming into the North America Cup. I just have to fix a couple of paddock situations, and I might put his shoes back the way I used to have them. Normally, you would think you would want aluminum shoes, but I think I might go back to the steel. He wore them last year up front, and this track is known to grip it better when you wear aluminums, and I just think I made a bad decision. I just made a bonehead move maybe, and I probably got lucky that he got the win and I got through it without looking too bad."

In the other Somebeachsomewhere split, Lyons Snyder (Filion) took control past the 25 4/5 opening quarter, then raced through a half in 54 1/5 and three-quarters in 1:22 1/5. O'Brien Award winner Control The Moment (Randy Waples) had dead-aim at the pacesetter through the lane off a second-over trip, but Lyons Snyder was unwavering, winning by half a length. Nocturnal Bluechip (Paul MacDonell) collected third.

Lyons Snyder, a colt by Well Said, is trained by Mark Silva for owners Jeff Snyder and Geoff Lyons Mound of New York and Ontario. This was his fourth lifetime win, and the winner's share of the purse put his career earnings in the six-figure category. He paid $5.10.

"He's trained good all year," Silva offered. "He was sore last year, and we gave him four months off. He's come back great this year.

"He still runs out a little. We got a little more work to do with him, but if I straighten that out, he's a serious horse."