Mohawk: Dayson fends off challengers in Graduate Trot leg

Dayson had a fight on his hands from the early going, but the altered son of Conway Hall prevailed under an energetic drive by Yannick Gingras to win the C$100,845 Graduate Series leg for 4-year-old trotters at Mohawk on Saturday night.

Sent off as the 6-5 slight betting favorite, Dayson was looped leaving by Dia Monde and began his advance past the 27 3/5 opening quarter. Dayson gained control moving down the backstretch, but was under immediate pressure from Warrawee Roo and driver Sylvain Filion. For a moment it appeared as if Gingras would yield, but following the 56 1/5 half he pressed on and kept his rival at bay while Trolley stacked up second-over and 3-2 second choice Broadway Donna advanced behind the third-over flow.

Dayson passed three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, and Trolley with Marcus Miller moved wide into the homestretch and appeared to have his sights firmly set on the winner. Trolley gained sharply as Dayson bore out through much of the stretch, and while it was a close photo, it ended up one that revealed Dayson a winner by a nose with Trolley second and Broadway Donna third - a length and a half off the top pair.

"I thought I got nipped," said Gingras after the race. "He raced huge tonight."

The victory was the first of the 4-year-old campaign for the Ron Burke-trained Dayson, who stopped the clock in 1:52 3/5 and was making his second start on Lasix.

"He bled pretty badly a few starts back, so it's made a difference," said Gingras.

Burke Racing Stable LLC., Our Horse Cents Stable, J And T Silva Stables LLC., and Rossie Smith own Dayson.