Mohawk: Beyond Delight rallies to upset in Metro Pace

Driver Sylvain Filion was able to watch the action unfold in front of him, setting Beyond Delight up with a third-over trip before sweeping to victory in the C$661,000 Metro Stakes final at Mohawk on Saturday night. The 6-1 choice scored in 1:51 3/5, winning for just the second time in nine starts during his first year on the track.

Favored Ocean Colony allowed the dust to settle and brushed to the lead past the 26 4/5 opening quarter. With Yannick Gingras in tow, Ocean Colony didn't get the break he was looking for when Windsong Napoleon and driver Phil Hudon pulled to challenge well before the half. The pair locked horns through a 54 2/5 opening half, but Ocean Colony put the outside pressure away and opened a gap on the field at the 1:22 4/5 three-quarters. On the far turn Ideal Wheel moved off second-over cover, and Filion followed that move perfectly into the stretch.

Ocean Colony began to falter in midstretch, and Beyond Delight, a son of Blue Chip Farms stallion Bettor's Delight, was in full flight, overpowering the leader and rolling on to a convincing score. Darlings Dragon, a 60-1 outsider, found room for driver Don Dupont in the deep stretch and rallied for second, with Ideal Wheel flattening out and finishing third. Classic Pro and Ocean Colony rounded out the check-getters.

Tony O'Sullivan trains Beyond Delight for owners Jeffrey Snyder, Michael Snyder and Four Friends Stable.

"It's unreal. I'm very happy," said O'Sullivan. "The race at Tioga broke him loose, and he just keeps getting better and better."

O'Sullivan admitted that Beyond Delight wasn't one of the better ones training down but has more than made up for that slow beginning with consecutive victories, first at 20-1 in his elimination and tonight as a 6-1 offering.

"I was hoping for a hot pace," said Filion. "He shocked me a little last week but I thought with a good trip that he could do this."