Woodbine Mohawk Park: When Dovescry flies away with Armbro Flight title

When Dovescry picked up her first victory outside of the Miss Versatility Series this year when she took the C$233,000 Armbro Flight Stakes for trotting mares on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The 5-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill stopped the clock in 1:51.

Starting from post four and with regular driver David Miller calling the shots, When Dovescry rushed to the top and chopped out the opening quarter in 27 2/5. Hypnotic AM (Doug McNair) then attacked two-wide out of third past that marker, and Miller released her to the top in the backstretch.

After taking charge, Hypnotic AM reached the half in 56 seconds, and it was at that time that Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) moved off the pylons from fourth, and Manchego (Dexter Dunn), the even-money favorite, gladly accepted her cover. With those two making forward progress on the outside on the last turn, Miller pulled the trigger two-wide with When Dovescry, and she got to within half a length of Hypnotic AM at the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters.

Manchego broke stride for the second straight race after three-quarters, taking her out of contention, and leaving a four-pack of mares: Hypnotic AM, When Dovescry, Atlanta, and Sorella (Andrew McCarthy) to decide it. In mid-stretch When Dovescry put away Hypnotic AM for good, and when Atlanta only had an even kick in her, it allowed When Dovescry to go on and win by three-parts of a length. Sorella out-kicked Atlanta as well to finish second, with Hypnotic AM and Royalty Deal (Louis-Philippe Roy) back in fourth and fifth.

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"It worked out pretty much like I was hoping. She's pretty handy off the gate. She can cut it out, or like I was planning on getting her covered up," said Miller. "I don't know, she felt really strong tonight, so I moved her maybe a little early, but it worked out. She just raced awesome.

"She's pretty special. She's been good at 2, 3, 4, and now at 5. She's just been a very, very special horse."

Brett Pelling trains When Dovescry for owner John Lengacher. This was her 17th career victory, and she has now earned C$1,452,437. The 3-1 second choice, she paid $8.20 to win.