Woodbine Mohawk Park: Refined jets to Armbro Flight title

Refined kicked off Saturday night's huge card of big races at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a 1:52 victory at odds of 7-1 in the C$210,000 Armbro Flight final for trotting mares, downing favored Bella Bellini late in the mile.

Driven by Doug McNair from post one, Refined got away in fifth while HP Mama B (Sylvain Filion) rolled to the front from post seven and chopped out the opening quarter of 27 seconds. Elimination winner Raised By Lindy (Yannick Gingras) would then move from third to first past that marker as Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn) waited patiently in the fourth position. Just past the soft 56 2/5 half Dunn fired Bella Bellini first-over, and she moved up with quick speed, which put both a second-over Refined and a third-over Warrawee Xenia (Bob McClure) into a gapped position. Meanwhile, Raised By Lindy was able to cling to the top spot at the 1:24 three-quarters, but Bella Bellini was a looming presence on the rim.

Bella Bellini sustained her bid into the lane and surged past Raised By Lindy to take command early in the drive. It looked like it was probably lights-out on the others once she struck the front, but not on this night, as Refined found a better stride once they hit the stretch while Bella Bellini came under urging in the final eighth. Nearing the wire Refined collared and then went by Bella Bellini, defeating her by half a length, with Warrawee Xenia also rallying to get third. Raised By Lindy faded to fourth and Adare Castle (James MacDonald) came in fifth.

"I was following the right horse right off the bat," McNair said of his trip. "I'm just thankful that Dexter didn't move her to the front or we'd have probably been a long first-over, but I still didn't think even though that I was following her that I had real good shot of beating her. She's a really game mare.

"She lugs in a little bit in the turns and she runs out a little bit, but she does it fast. I just figured once we got out of the last turn and when we got on the right foot that we had a shot to get some good money. Halfway down the lane I said jeez she's actually going by, and she did. She raced great."

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A 7-year-old daughter of Uncle Peter, Refined is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. She has 34 wins from 95 career starts, pushed her earnings to C$910,228, and paid $16.30 to win.

"Last year she showed up in the Breeders Crown and she did some work and she did really well, she finished third," noted Morgan Jr. "Then she finished second in the TVG, so we had some high hopes coming into this year for her.

"I knew by getting away fifth we were going to follow Bella Bellini obviously, and that's the horse to follow. I was hoping Dexter wouldn't quarter-pole and then we're first-up. It worked out great. She struggles a little in the turns, but once she straightened up I knew she was going to be close. Halfway through the stretch I said 'well, she's going to be second,' and then late, late she's just so game. She tries so hard and it showed up tonight."