Mohawk: Candlelight Dinner is a filly with a future

Candlelight Dinner appears to be on the path to stardom after another fabulous performance in the Whenuwishuponastar Series final Thursday at Mohawk Racetrack.

The Casie Coleman trained filly was clearly the horse to beat in Thursday’s final after an outstanding six length victory in the opening leg. A field of eight went behind the gate for the $39,800 event with $75,759 of the $83,172 in the Win pool wagered on Candlelight Dinner.

The American Ideal filly didn’t appear to break a sweat, as she jogged to a five length victory in 1:52 2/5. Driven by Jonathan Drury, Candlelight Dinner got away fifth, before making a brush to the front at the half in 56 3/5.

The Coleman trainee made a 27 2/5 third-quarter look easy, before cruising home in 28 2/5 for the victory. Black Jack Pat, who won the second leg, finished second, while Moment To Ponder was third.

A $110,000 purchase at last fall’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Candlelight Dinner is now three for three to start her career for owners Mac Nichol, Let It Ride Stable and Howard Taylor.

“Right from the get-go she has just been a sweetheart,” said Coleman. “She got a little hot on me like most Americna Ideal’s can, but we taught her out of that right away, that’s why J.D.’s (Jonathan Drury) been racing her the way he is.

“He’s handled her really well, teaching her how to race when she is a dead favorite.”

Through three starts, Candlelight Dinner’s smallest margin of victory is four and a half lengths. Coleman noted that the filly will be aimed towards the upcoming Grand Circuit events at Mohawk.

“I have no plans to take her to New York for Sires Stakes,” Coleman said. “She’ll have a week off and then she is in the four stakes in a row here with the Eternal Camnation, (Shes A) Great Lady and stuff like that.”

Candlelight Dinner’s Whenuwishuponastar victory gives Coleman two victories in the last three editions of the event, as Happy Becky captured the 2014 edition for the five-time O’Brien Award winning Trainer of the Year.

While the Whenuwishuponastar Series concluded Thursday, the Define The World Series got underway.

A scratched down field of five rookie trotting colts and geldings met up for the $14,000 first leg. Tom Durand trainee Seven And Seven powered by a pair of rivals in deep stretch for a 1:57 4/5 victory.

The son of Chapter Seven followed along closely, as Cant U Spell led the compact group through fractions of 29 4/5, 1:00 2/5 and 1:29 1/5

In the stretch, the favorite Awol Hanover came off the back of the leader looking to score the victory, but Seven And Seven had the most trot on the far outside and got up for trainer/driver Durand to win by a length.

A $17,000 purchase at last fall’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Seven And Seven is owned by June & Tom Durand and Allan Smith. The rookie trotting colt was making his second career start Thursday after a fourth place finish in his debut on July 14.

The second leg of the Define The World Series will take place next Thursday (August 11).

--edited release (WEG)