Woodbine Mohawk Park: Alicorn, Lyons Sentinel take She's A Great Lady elims

Alicorn and driver Louis-Philippe Roy continued their dominance in the first of two C$35,000 eliminations for the She's A Great Lady Stakes for juvenile pacing fillies Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Bettor's Delight-sired lass won effortlessly, equaling her career-best 1:50 3/5 clocking as the overwhelming public choice.

Alicorn had the lead fairly quickly from post four, and Roy let her pace through the 26 4/5 opening quarter with little dispute from her five rivals. The fractions were sensible after that, with a half in 55 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:23 2/5, with Peaky Sneaky coming out before the three-quarters but not advancing. Roy spent much of the stretch looking behind him and then gently tapping Alicorn, and the filly responded kindly, holding a very safe advantage to the wire while coasting in a 27 1/5 final quarter. Somebeachsometime rallied past the other five for second, with Betalady holding third. Alexa Skye and Peaky Sneaky also advanced from this group.

Chantal Mitchell trains Alicorn for owners Windemere Stables and Robert Muscara. Alicorn has five wins in eight career starts and rewarded her followers with a $2.10 win mutuel ticket.

"I didn't want to spend more than we needed," said Roy following the race. "She was fantastic."

Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Lyons Sentinel made a monster move on the final turn and drove right past 1-2 favorite Reflect Me With to capture the second elimination in 1:50 1/5 for driver Tim Tetrick, equaling the stakes, track, and Canadian records.

JK First Lady went to the front quickly with Yannick Gingras and seated Reflect With Me through a 28 3/5 opener. Andrew McCarthy took favored Reflect With Me to the front between calls and cut a rated half in 56 flat before picking up the tempo. Reflect With Me sprinted a 27 1/5 third quarter as Tetrick got Lyons Sentinel energized on the final turn.

The homestretch turned into a one-horse battle as Lyons Sentinel, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, steamrolled by the leader and cruised off with a 27 second final quarter. Reflect With Me held on to second, with JK First Lady third. Off The Press and Saulsbrook Raven also advanced to the September 21 final.

"I was concerned about the long stretch up here," said Tetrick. "She seemed to really like it."

Jim King Jr. trains Lyons Sentinel for Threelyonsracing. Sent off as the second choice, Lyons Sentinel returned $6 while winning for the fifth time in eight career starts.

Here's how the field will line up for next Saturday night's C$540,000 final:

1 – Off The Press
2 – Reflect With Me
3 – Saulsbrook Raven
4 – Lyons Sentinel
5 – Alicorn
6 – Jk First Lady
7 – Peaky Sneaky
8 – Alexa Skye
9 – Somebeachsometime
10 – Betalady
AE – Temagami Seelster