Woodbine Mohawk Park: Trotting fillies compete in Casual Breeze Stakes

Grand Circuit action continued Friday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park with the Casual Breeze for 3-year-old trotting fillies. A pair of C$75,400 divisions were contested with seven-horse fields in each.

The opening flight saw Amazone Duharas power by Hawaii in the final strides to win for driver Louis-Philippe Roy and trainer Denis Gueriel.

Sent off at 5-1, Amazone Duharas shot out to the early lead, posting a 27 4/5 opener before Hawaii looped around to grab command. The new leader posted fractions of 57 2/5 and 1:25 4/5. In the stretch, Hawaii got a bit of separation on her two-hole challenger, but Amazone Duharas was in full flight late to muscle by for a victory of a length in 1:53 4/5. Dicentra was third, while You Will Be Queen was fourth.

A daughter of Muscle Hill, Amazone Duharas was making her first stakes appearance of the season after winning two of six starts early this year. The Casual Breeze score gives her three wins and C$78,080 earned for Haras De L'Estrie Inc.

"I'm stabled at the same barn as Denis Gueriel, and they've done a pretty good job with her," said Roy post-race. "Earlier in the season she had a little bit of issues and instead of just pushing her they gave her a little bit of time and took more time with her. Since she's come back now she's been improving every start, so it paid off for them, and I'm happy for them."

A $2 win ticket on Amazone Duharas returned $13.60.

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HP Mama B posted a coast-to-coast 1:53 4/5 victory in the second flight for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Ben Baillargeon.

A first turn break by top contender Donna Soprano left the favorite HP Mama B in full control. Filion posted a snappy opening quarter of 26 3/5 before getting a second quarter breather in 30 4/5. HP Mama B took the field to three-quarters in 1:26 and then trotted home in 27 4/5 to win comfortably by a length and quarter over Imextraspecial. Up And Ready was third, while Dashing Muscle was fourth.

The Ontario Sires Stakes star HP Mama B has now won three starts in-a-row to improve her 3-year-old record to five- for-eight. The daughter of Royalty For Life now sports career numbers of 10 wins and C$333,987 earned for owners Guylaine Picard and Celine Paquin.

"She's a pretty decent mare; she's a nice mare," said Baillargeon, who also bred the filly. "She's big and strong, and she trained real good this week. I told Sylvain before the race 'she's strong, she's good,' and he got the job done...had to leave 26 3/5, and then Sylvain did the rest. When he asked her to go she went, 27 4/5 at the end."

A $2 win ticket on HP Mama B returned $4.40.

The Grand Circuit action continues Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a stakes-filled rich program. The Canadian Pacing Derby, Maple Leaf Trot, and Pepsi North America Cup eliminations headline a 13-race card. Post time is 7 p.m.

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--