Mohawk: Wrangler Magic upsets in Fan Hanover Final
Local hope Wrangler Magic picked the perfect time to win her first race of 2015, converting a great Sylvain Filion steer to a 1:50 2/5 victory in the $479,000 Fan Hanover Stakes Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack. The win was the Mach Three filly’s third in 13 lifetime starts and the winner’s purse raised her earnings to just over $260,000 for owners Thomas Kyron of Ontario, Maurice Stewart of Alberta and Brian Paquet and Bayama Farms of Quebec.
The battle that most expected didn’t materialize as even money favorite JK She’salady tasted defeat for the second week straight and only second time in her life, fading to 5th after moving first over in the 3rd quarter. Sassa Hanover, the strong second choice, set a strong pace and looked to have a good chance turning home but also faded late to finish 4th.
Wrangler Magic left hard from the outset and sat a great pocket trip behind the pacesetter. When Filion gave her the “go” signal early in the lane, the Mach Three filly accelerated quickly and powered away from her foes using a 27 2/5 final quarter to seal the deal.
Winning driver Filion gave some of the credit to his father in the winner’s circle. “Yves has done an amazing job to get her to be so good and sound this year,” he noted. “Right now she’s awesome!” Filion helps develop young horses for winning trainer Stephane Laroque. “We have a great relationship, we work together and talk every day.” He explained. “It’s a lot of teamwork and it’s working so far.”
Last year’s North American Horse of the Year JK She’salady changed all four shoes from steel to aluminum after a sub-par effort last week but it didn’t help. She raced a near-identical first-up mile and was asked by driver Tim Tetrick on the final turn but had little response. Her record now sits at 13 wins from 15 starts and so far this season she looks a shadow of what she was last year in an undefeated rookie campaign.
Clearly the night belonged to the improving Wrangler Magic who hinted at a big trip last week when she recovered from an early shuffle to finish a strong 2nd to Sassa Hanover.
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