Woodbine Mohawk Park: Tattoo Artist rallies to Canadian Pacing Derby title

Tattoo Artist, with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike, came charging down the stretch and wore down odds-on favorite and pace-setter Bythemissal in the final yards to capture the C$615,000 Canadian Pacing Derby at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night in a 1:47 4/5 clocking.

Poseidon Seelster, with Bob McClure, left alertly from the inside, with Allywag Hanover and Linedrive Hanover also charging out quickly as Yannick Gingras fired as well with Bythemissal but settled along the pylons before the opening bend. Linedrive Hanover and James MacDonald cleared the front on the opening bend, but Todd McCarthy with Allywag Hanover were quick to regain the front past the 26 4/5 opening fraction. Gingras wasted little time himself after taking a seat early and followed Allywag Hanover's move but took a long time to cross over during the contentious second quarter that put the field at the halfway point in 53 3/5.

Roy and Tattoo Artist had gotten away towards the back of the field, and they had a long grind up on the outside to reach the leaders during the third quarter. They were fortunate to see Linedrive Hanover pull to the outside midway on the last turn. Gingras, though, had throttled down the third quarter nicely and appeared to have Bythemissal well reserved off three-quarters in 1:21.

Much of the stretch appeared to be a chess game between Gingras and McCarthy as the leader looked to open space along the pylons during the early stretch only to shut it off and stymie Allywag Hanover's potential bid. With that action in full view, Roy moved Tattoo Artist wide, and the Dr. Ian Moore trainee that finished second in last year's Pacing Derby exploded with pace and was able to narrowly catch the favorite right before the wire for the win. Allywag Hanover eventually found room but too late to threaten and settled for third.

A 6-year-old son of He's Watching, Tattoo Artist is owned by Let It Ride Stable, Diamond Creek Racing, Frank Cannon and Bottom Line Racing. A winner in one of two eliminations a week earlier, Tattoo Artist returned $15.30 for the victory.

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"I thought I screwed up," said Roy after the contest. "I thought there was going to be a lot of action, but then I wound up being first-over a long way. I just love this horse."

It was the second Canadian Pacing Derby win for Dr. Moore.

"It was special when I won it the first time a couple of years ago (2015) with State Treasurer, and it's special with this horse," said Dr. Moore.