Woodbine Mohawk Park: Goodtimes eliminations go to Forbidden Trade, Pilot Discretion

Sophomore trotters were in action Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the eliminations of the Goodtimes Stakes. A group of 18 were split into a pair of C$30,000 divisions.

Forbidden Trade angled out of the two-hole late for a 1:53 1/5 victory in the first elimination.

Driven by Bob McClure, Forbidden Trade showed early speed to grab the lead and post a 27 2/5 opening quarter, but race favorite Swandre The Giant moved from third to first in the second quarter and posted middle-half fractions of 56 2/5 and 1:26 1/5.

In the stretch, Swandre The Giant put away rivals pressuring on the outside and tried to sprint away. However, McClure angled Forbidden Trade out in the final eighth, and the son of Kadabra responded to the clear racetrack by charging up alongside and then by Swandre The Giant to win by a neck.

Smart As Hill, who came first-up in the third quarter, finished third. The top-five was completed by Super Schissel and Only For Justice.

“I didn’t have him until the wire,” said McClure, following the victory. “I figured if I could get to the front he would be coming, and it worked out good.

“He grew up a lot, matured a lot and has always been really fast. He got a nice trip and took advantage of it.”

Forbidden Trade was making his second start of the season Friday after finishing second in his season debut. The Luc Blais trainee won seven of 11 starts and earned C$300,436 last season to earn an O’Brien Award for owner Determination. A $2 win ticket on Forbidden Trade returned $12.80.

Pilot Discretion kept his perfect record alive with a career-best 1:52 mile in the second Goodtimes split.

Driven by Andrew McCarthy, Pilot Discretion was quickly moved out from fourth entering the backstretch but had to spend the next quarter on the outside before finally clearing at a sizzling half of 55 1/5.

The Tony Alagna-trained Pilot Discretion wasn’t bothered from there and proceeded to hit three-quarters in 1:24 before trotting home in 28 seconds to secure a 3 1/2 length score. Southwind Avenger finished second, while Dream Nation was third. Jumpshot and Knight Angel completed the top-five.

A son of Muscle Hill, Pilot Discretion is now five-for-five in his young career. The Tony Alagna trainee was racing for the third time this season and has now earned $41,000 for owners Robert LeBlanc, David Anderson and John Fodera.

“He’s just been really good this year coming back,” said Alagna. “We were so high on the colt last year, but he just wasn’t ready to go. We raced him twice at Lexington for experience and had hoped to race him in the Valley Victory and he got sick on us, so we put him away for the year.

“He trained back great in Florida this winter. We were high leaving Florida and hoping he would do what he’s doing right now."

Alagna pegged the Goodtimes as a perfect spot for Pilot Discretion’s Grand Circuit debut.

“David Anderson owns the colt with Robert LeBlanc, and they’re from Canada originally and of course in partnership with John Fodera. It’s a fun group to have a horse for of this caliber, and we thought it would be a great time to try the stakes trail with this horse.”

A $2 win ticket on Pilot Discretion returned $3.20.

Here's how the field will line up for next Saturday night's final:

1. Only For Justice

2. Swandre The Giant

3. Pilot Discretion

4. Forbidden Trade

5. Super Schissel

6. Smart As Hill

7. Dream Nation

8. Southwind Avenger

9. Jumpshot

10. Knight Angel

AE: Trix And Stones

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--