Mohawk: L A Delight, Caprice Hill among SBOA of Ontario elim winners

A crowd of thousands packed Mohawk Racetrack Saturday night for Fireworks and Family Fun Night and got to enjoy an action-packed ten-race card. The eliminations for the S.B.O.A Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies highlighted the card and featured the return of a pair of divisional champions.

A total of 21 three-year-old pacing fillies were split into two $25,000 eliminations.

The second pacing elimination featured the return of O’Brien Award winner L A Delight, and she did not disappoint.

The Bob McIntosh-trained filly left from post nine and dropped in fifth in the early stages. Driven by Randy Waples, L A Delight came to the outside entering the far turn and eventually was situated second-over at the three-quarter pole.

In the stretch, L A Delight ripped off cover and marched by her rivals to win by a three-quarters of a length in 1:52 2/5. Thatsoveryverynice, who was third-over around the final turn, finished second, while Lady Marina battled hard after leading throughout the middle-half to finish third. Free Show and Noone To Depend On finished fourth and fifth to qualify for next week’s final.

A daughter of Bettor's Delight, L A Delight was making her season debut Saturday after winning 11 of 12 starts as a rookie. The McIntosh trainee won the She's A Great Lady and OSS Super Final last season and finished with earnings of over $704,000. L A Delight paid $2.40 to win.

Good Will Hanover delivered an impressive performance to win the first elimination in a career-best 1:51 1/5.

The Dr. Ian Moore trainee left hard to grab the early lead, but was overtaken in the second quarter by Mayhem Seelster. Good Will Hanover stalked behind the leader and made her move in the stretch to surge by for driver Chris Christoforou to score the victory by a length and a quarter. Mayhem Seelster finished second, while Lay Lady Lay was third. The final two horses to qualify for the final were Tonightimlovingyou and Divas Image.

A daughter of Big Jim, Good Will Hanover is trained by Moore for owners GLB Stable. Saturday’s victory was her first win in two starts this season and fifth overall. Good Will Hanover pushed her career earnings to over $177,000 with the victory. She paid $12 to win.

A group of 22 sophomore trotting fillies were split into two $25,000 eliminations.

O’Brien Award winner Caprice Hill looked impressive in winning the first elimination in 1:53 1/5. The Tony Alagna trainee got away fifth from post nine and was sent first-up by driver Randy Waples heading into the first turn.

Danish Darby held a length advantage over the first-up challenger at the three-quarter pole in 1:25, but in the stretch, Caprice Hill cruised home in 28 seconds to overtake the leader and secure the victory by a length and three-quarters. Danish Darby finished second, while Tymal Tempest was third. P L Jill and Moonlight Cocktail rounded out the top-five to qualify for next week’s final.

A daughter of Kadabra, Caprice Hill is trained by Alagna for owner Tom Hill. The sophomore trotting filly was making her season debut after a stellar seven wins in ten starts as a rookie. Caprice Hill pushed her career earnings over $600,000 with Saturday’s victory. She paid $3 to win.

Celebrity Eventsy was an easy winner in the second elimination. The Staffan Lind trainee took the lead in the second quarter and never looked back en route to a 1:54.1 victory. Sylvain Filion guided Celebrity Eventsy to the 3 1/2 length victory Saturday. She finished off her mile in 28 2/5 to secure the victory over runner-up Flowers N Songs. Jangone finished third, while Dottie and Major Muscle rounded out the top five.

A daughter of Manofmanymissions, Celebrity Eventsy was making her season debut Saturday after posting four wins in 10 starts last season. She is trained by Lind for owners Celebrity Farms LLC. Celebrity Eventsy has earned over $239,000 in 11 career starts. She paid $2.80 to win.

--press release (Woodbine Entertainment Group)--