Woodbine Mohawk Park: Caviart Audrey leads Eternal Camnation victors

Nightlife Seelster, Caviart Audrey, and Best Head West won the trio of Eternal Camnation tilts for 2-year-old pacing fillies on the Pepsi North America Cup undercard on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with Caviart Audrey taking the fastest grouping thanks to a 1:51 2/5 performance.

Racing in the second C$75,000 division, Caviart Audrey (Yannick Gingras) went right to the top from post five, chopped out stations of 28 1/5, 56 1/5, and 1:23 2/5, and pulled away in a 28 second final kicker, winning by 9 1/4 lengths in 1:51 2/5. Twin B Sunkissed (James MacDonald) was second at 107-1, with Postscript (Trevor Henry) back in third.

Gingras also drove Caviart Audrey's dam Darlin's Delight during her excellent career and noted they have some of the same attributes.

"They're very, very similar the two of them. They're really sweet, and they can do it any which want you want," said Gingras. "She reminds me a lot of her mom. Her mom was the first great horse I drove, so she's always going to have a special spot in my heart. This filly, those are big shoes to fill, Darlin's Delight, but so far, so good."

Nancy Takter trains Caviart Audrey, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, for owner Caviart Farms. Caviart Audrey, who was bred by White Birch Farm and sold for $280,000 at the 2019 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has won twice from three starts and has now earned C$65,905. Being out of Darlin's Delight (Bettor's Delight, 1:49 1/5, $2,905,335), Caviart Audrey is a full sister to Darlinonthebeach (1:48 1/5, $1,068,564). Caviart Audrey paid $3.10 to win as the 1-2 favorite.

Back in the first C$75,000 grouping, Nightlife Seelster (Bob McClure) took charge going to the 55 2/5 half, backed down the three-quarters to just 1:25, and held on to the wire, winning by half a length in 1:54 3/5. Adashious Hanover (Jody Jamieson) was the runner-up, with Voelz Delight (Sylvain Filion) rounding out the top three.

"I had to use her way more than I wanted in the first half and the first three-quarters," remarked McClure. "She got a bit of a breather in the last turn, but it's always handy here to have the front when you've got that headwind coming, too."

A filly by Sunshine Beach, Nightlife Seelster is trained by Shawn Steacy for co-owners Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc., Conrad Leber, and Bertrand Gilhespy Stable. She now has a record of 2-1-0 from three appearances, and she has pocketed C$52,575. Bred by Seelster Farms Inc., Nightlife Seelster was purchased for C$72,000 at last year's London Selected Yearling Sale and is out of the unraced Western Hanover mare No Strikes Against, making her a half-sister to Nirvana Seelster (Camluck, 1:48, C$1,276,324). Nightlife Seelster was a 3-1 shot and returned $8.60 to win.

Rounding out the Eternal Camnation winners was Best Head West (Henry), who won the final C$74,994 test in 1:53 1/5. She advanced on the rim to take over first after a 27 3/5 quarter but yielded to Scarlett Hanover (Gingras) prior to the 56 second half-mile point. Scarlett Hanover was well-rated around the far turn, getting to three-quarters in 1:25 1/5, but Henry sent Best Head West two-wide in the lane, and she was able to chase down and then go by Scarlett Hanover late to prevail by a head. Spellcheck Hanover (Doug McNair).

"I had to put her up close, like near the lead tonight," stated Henry. "She's funny, around the first turn, she won't pass. Once I got to the front, I was glad Yannick came because I was in trouble. She doesn't want to keep going. That's what happened to her in her first start, she ran to the infield on me, and it wasn't good, but tonight when Yannick came, then she was fine. She's just green, but she's a nice filly."

Trainer Bob McIntosh also bred and co-owns Best Head West, a daughter of Bettor's Delight, with partners C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. Best Head West has now won three times from seven trips behind the gate, and she has earned C$108,637. The homebred is out of the Art Major mare Let's Head Out West, a full sister to one millionaire in L A Delight and a half-sister to another millionaire in Somewhere In L A (Somebeachsomewhere). Best Head West paid $4.70 to win as the second choice.