Woodbine Mohawk Park: Caviart Audrey placed first in She's A Great Lady final
Judges' decisions have worked in the favor of driver Yannick Gingras and Nancy Takter at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the past, and the pair once again were elevated to the winner's circle in Saturday's C$455,000 She's A Great Lady final for 2-year-old pacing fillies as unofficial race winner Scarlett Hanover was disqualified for causing interference in the stretch.
Scarlett Hanover gunned out to the early lead, with Andrew McCarthy seating multiple horses early through a 26 second opening quarter. Notorious Pink and Bob McClure made an aggressive move following the quarter and had control through a brisk 53 4/5 opening half fraction. Caviart Audrey and Gingras began an uncovered attack at that point and quickly advanced towards the leader, but McClure was looking to avoid a head-to-head match and sped through three-quarters in a wicked 1:21 3/5, leaving Caviart Audrey parked but not advancing.
Through the stretch drive, McClure kept Notorious Pink going straight, and that had Scarlett Hanover and McCarthy desperately searching for a clear path with no room along the pylons. McCarthy edged out in the late stages, and in the process, forced Lady Arthur, who was making up ground, to veer wide into Twin B Sunkissed and cause that one to break.
McCarthy was able to regain control of Scarlett Hanover, and she rallied in the final yards to collar the leader and score by a nose over Caviart Audrey, who needed the entire stretch to edge Notorious Pink by a nose. The final time was 1:52 2/5, as the slow final quarter saw Paulas
Bet Hanover make up a huge chunk of ground and finish right on the wire with the top three. Best Head West was less than a half-length off the winner and was placed fourth.
For Caviart Audrey, it was win number five in six starts, with her lone defeat coming when she was disqualified from a victory in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono for causing interference . She returned $3.70 to win.
Caviart Audrey, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere from the champion mare Darlin's Delight, is owned by Caviart Farms.
Scarlett Hanover was set back to ninth for the infraction.