Mohawk: On A Sunny Day, Southwind Tesla capture Casual Breeze victories

On A Sunny Day's first stakes engagement outside the Ontario Sires Stakes program was a winning one, and Southwind Tesla upset Hambletonian Oaks runner-up Magic Presto in the pair of C$81,412 Casual Breeze splits for 3-year-old filly trotters on Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

Driven by Sylvain Filion, On A Sunny Day, sent off as the 3-2 second choice, was in the lead through panels of 28 2/5, 58 1/5, and 1:26 1/5 in the first division, and she was able to turn away a first-over bid from 6-5 favorite Glitzey Gal (Trevor Henry) before three-quarters. In the stretch The Erm (Louis-Philippe Roy) came out of the pocket to take a shot against On A Sunny Day, but the tempo-setter remained in front, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:54 2/5. Winter Sweet Frost (Doug McNair) was the third-place finisher.

"She's a real sweetheart," said Filion. "She's not very big, but she's all heart. Tonight we got soft fractions, and it was pretty easy for her."

Luc Blais trains On A Sunny Day, a daughter of Muscle Mass, for owner Determination. This was On A Sunny Day's eighth victory from 13 career starts, and she has now banked C$363,486. She paid $5.00 to win.

In the other section Dream Together and Filion were in the lead at the 28 1/5 opening quarter, but Magic Presto (Henry) moved up on the outside from third and took command before the 56 4/5 half. Southwind Tesla (Phil Hudon) had gotten away in the fifth spot, and she would come first-over at the half, getting to within about two lengths of Magic Presto at the 1:25 2/5 three-quarters.

Southwind Tesla, who was dispatched at 13-1, continued her gain into the lane, wrestling away the top spot from Magic Presto before the eighth pole, and although Dream Together found a seam late from the pocket, Southwind Tesla held her off to score by half a length in a career-best 1:54. Dream Baby Dream (Rod Allen) went from seventh at three-quarters to third at the wire.

"I was hoping to get a second-over, but it looked like I was going to be first-up, so I just kind of grinded up slowly," offered Hudon. "Coming past the three-quarters there she felt really good, and when I headed Trevor I really thought I had a good shot."

The victorious Chapter Seven filly is co-owned by trainer Rene Dion along with partners Susie Kerwood and David Nicol. Southwind Tesla is now a four-time winner in her life, and she has put away C$154,739. She returned $28.10 to win.