Mohawk: Upsets in Roses R Red eliminations

Lady Shadow and Colors A Virgin were victors in their respective $35,000 Roses Are Red eliminations for pacing fillies and mares on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

With Doug McNair in the bike, Lady Shadow captured the first elimination in front-stepping fashion.

As soon as the starting gate’s wings closed, Lady Shadow brushed to the lead and that is where she remained, putting up fractions of 25 4/5, 54 and 121 3/5 before stopping the clock in a new lifetime mark of 1:48 3/5. Yagonnakissmeornot rallied for second and the even-money favorite, Weeper, was third. Anndrovette, a three-time Rose Are Red Final winner, was fourth and Waasmula was fifth.

“She has made almost $500,000 as a 2- and 3-year-old,” said McNair. “She has always been a nice mare and she’ll go a big trip once in a while on the front end. Tonight I was just planning on racing her from off the pace and I had seen a couple that I thought were going to leave decide they were taking off, so I just let her roll and the rest is history.”

With the victory, the Ron Adams trainee notched her second triumph of the season from four starts. The 13-time career winner lifts her earnings to $517,679 for owners David Kryway, Carl Atley, Edwin Gold and Richard Lombardo.

The 4-year-old daughter of Shadow Play-Lady Camella returned $19.40 to win.

In the second elimination, Colors A Virgin and driver Trace Tetrick finished second but inherited the win after race-winner Venus Delight caused interference to Katie Said in the stretch and was placed eighth, according to Ontario Racing Commission judges.

Krispy Apple put up fractions of 26 4/5, 55 1/5 and 1:22 2/5 before Venus Delight kicked off second-over cover, provided by Colors A Virgin, to get to the wire first in 1:49. Colors A Virgin finished second and was placed first. Sandbetweenurtoes finished third and was placed second and Table Talk was fourth and placed third.

The Jeff Bamond Jr. trainee notched her fourth win of the season from seven outings. The 22-time career winner lifts her earnings to $798,572 for owner Emerald Highlands Farm.

The 4-year-old daughter of Always A Virgin-Full Color returned $17.50 to win.

The $350,000 Roses Are Red Final, which is set for Saturday, June 20 as part of the C$1-million Pepsi North America Cup undercard, will be drawn Tuesday.

-edited release (WEG)