Woodbine Mohawk Park: Funtime Bayama, Nijinsky impress in Somebeachsomewhere

Funtime Bayama and driver Sylvain Filion put in a powerhouse performance as the second choice in capturing the first of two divisions of the Somebeachsomewhere at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night. Funtime Bayama captured the C$84,000 event after grabbing the front on the first turn and controlling the pace to his advantage, while the slow half did compromise heavy favorite Legendary Hanover.

Filion had Funtime Bayama in high gear leaving from post nine, and he secured the front from Fast Louie into the opening bend. Storm Shadow also found a spot in fourth on the opening bend after leaving from post 10. James MacDonald left cautiously with Legendary Hanover and ducked into a hole in mid-pack entering the first bend.

With the field in line through a 26 4/5 opening quarter, Filion controlled the pace masterfully, setting a half in 55 4/5 and accelerating some through three-quarters in 1:23. While the pace slowed, Legendary Hanover was on the move from second- over but was still well off the leader at the three-quarters.

Once in the homestretch Filion didn't have to pull the earplugs to get a response from the homebred Funtime Bayama, as the altered son of He's Watching shifted gears and sprinted off with a 26 1/5 final quarter and a 1:49 1/5 career-best clocking the result. Legendary Hanover was able make up enough ground to gain the second spot with Fast Louie third.

Trained by Richard Moreau and owned by Bayama Farms, Funtime Bayama won for the third time in four starts this year and returned $10.50 to win.

"I expected James (MacDonald) to come and cover me up," said Filion following the race of how he expected a pocket trip behind the favorite. "When I saw the fractions, I was happy."

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Nijinsky and driver Louis-Philippe Roy put in a crushing mile to capture the second C$83,000 division of the Somebeachsomewhere, pacing to a career-best 1:49 mile at the expense of odds-on favorite and last year's Metro champion Captains Quarters.

At the outset Roy left with Nijinsky and yielded to a sharp-leaving Newsroom into the first turn. When favored Captains Quarters and Jody Jamieson hustled to the front before the 26 4/5 quarter, Roy had a decision to make. After a brief move past the quarter, Roy sent Nijinsky to the front well before the half and was able to get a nice 55 second half with the favorite on his back.

Nijinsky, a son of Bettor's Delight, kept the pace honest through three-quarters and saw no competition in the outer tier while hitting three-quarters in 1:22 3/5 and gaining separation from all but the pocket-sitting Captains Quarters. Roy spoke to the Anthony Beaton trainee in the lane, and the response was impressive as he tacked on a 26 2/5 final quarter and left Captains Quarters in his wake, though the favorite was far ahead of third-place finisher Newsroom at the wire.

Owned by West Wins Stable, John Fielding and Mark Dumain, Nijinsky has now won all three of his starts this year, including an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series event where he bettered first Somebeachsomewhere division winner Funtime Bayama. As the close second choice, Nijinsky returned $4.90 to win.

"He does everything perfectly," Roy said, summing up the talent Nijinsky has displayed this year. "He had the plugs still in, and I know you can get an extra response when you pull them."