Mohawk: Milton Stakes eliminations won by Pure Country, Blue Moon Stride

Pure Country won as a big favorite and Blue Moon Stride upset 1-9 choice Lady Shadow in the pair of C$35,000 Milton Stakes eliminations for pacing mares on Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

Driven by Mark MacDonald, Pure Country had to work hard to get to the lead in the first elimination, clearing Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron) at the 53 3/5 half. Pure Country kept pacing on once she struck the front, though, blasting through three-quarters in 1:21 4/5 and going on to beat a rallying L A Delight (Randy Waples) by a length in 1:50. Lyons River Pride (Trevor Henry), Witch Dali (Doug McNair), and Wrangler Magic (Louis-Philippe Roy) rounded out the mares moving on to the final.

"She was kind of in a 4-year-old slump there, and I got on her right when she was getting on a good roll," said MacDonald of Pure Country, who won her third consecutive race. "I was like, I'd rather be on the front than first-over, so I may well just keep pushing, and I was confident she'd be strong. I'm not scared of anybody with her. This mare's a world champion."

Jimmy Takter trains the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere for owner/breeder Diamond Creek Farm. This was her 23rd career victory, and she has now earned C$2,172,991. Dispatched at 2-5, Pure Country returned $2.90 to win.

In the other elimination Lady Shadow (Yannick Gingras) was 1-9, and she would wrestle control away from Blue Moon Stride (David Miller) before the 54 4/5 half. Lady Shadow was unchallenged around the final bend and put three-quarters on the board in 1:22 2/5, but Blue Moon Stride came through the inside to regain the lead in the lane. Sandbetweenurtoes (McNair) charged at Blue Moon Stride late, but she held sway, prevailing by a length in 1:50. Frost Damage Blues (Tim Tetrick) finished third, followed by Darlinonthebeach (Brett Miller) and Lady Shadow.

"I raced her a couple weeks ago (a 1:49 1/5 win at Pocono), and she went a big mile on the front-end, beating a couple nice mares," offered David Miller. "I thought if she could hold that form that she'd be all right tonight."

The victorious 4-year-old Rocknroll Hanover mare is trained by Mark Harder for owners Emilio and Maria Rosati. She is now a 13-time winner in her life, and she pushed her bankroll to C$826,421. She was sent off at 7-1 and paid $17.70 to win.

Here is how the field will line up for next Saturday night's final:

1-Lady Shadow
2-Blue Moon Stride
3-Pure Country
4-Wrangler Magic
5-L A Delight
6-Darlinonthebeach
7-Frost Damage Blues
8-Lyons River Pride
9-Sandbetweenurtoes
10-Witch Dali
AE-Penpal

In other action on the card, Kendall Seelster (Waples), who defeated open company in the Champlain Stakes last week, returned to the Ontario Sires Stakes and won the lone C$125,800 division for 2-year-old pacing fillies from second-over in 1:52 4/5. She beat Lady Grande (Jonathan Drury) by about three lengths, with Just Her Luck (Henry) third.

Kendall Seelster is a daughter of Shadow Play trained by Paul Reid for owner 1187422 Ontario Inc. This was her third win from eight starts,and she has now earned C$262,085. Bred by Seelster Farms Inc., Kendall Seelster sold for C$47,000 at the Forest City Yearling Sale and is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Kiddie Cocktail, a sister to four six-figure earners, topped by Bikini Bottom (Cam's Card Shark, $527,958). She was sent off at 3-5 and returned $3.50 to win.