Four top 3 year old colts took the show at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night in the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes for a purse of $84,000 Canadian.
The first division saw the Filion & Moreau pupil Funtime Bayama take on the heavy favorite Legendary Hanover trained by Beaton. Funtime Bayama driven by Filion fired hard from the outside post clearing to the top just before the first turn hitting the 1/4 pole in a nice :26.4 followed by an array of long shots. Meanwhile Legendary Hanover took off the gate by driver Ja. Macdonald tucked away under a heavy hold in the 6th position of the leaders wheels by 8 lengths. Filion with no pressure from anyone in the field as they stayed single file till just before the half stole a second 1/4 in :29 hitting the halfway pole in a leisurely :55.4. Legendary Hanover was flushed by Calicojack Hanover driven by Roy promptly getting first over cover from Storm Shadow driven by McClure leaving him second over still 7 lengths off the leader Funtime Bayama. Around the last turn Filion turns back to survey the field and seeing Legendary Hanover with traffic he continued to accelerate to the 3/4 pole. At the 3/4 pole in 1:23 flat a third quarter in :27.1 Filion asked for more from the big colt Funtime Bayama as Fast Louie driven by Gingras is still clinging to his helmet and Ja. Macdonald swings Legendary Hanover 3 wide from the back of the sputtering Storm Shadow at the top of the lane still 5 lengths off of the lead. Funtime Bayama continued to pour it on down the lane with some urging from Filion before putting him away before the wire in 1:49.1 final quarter in :26.1 an impressive bounce back performance after losing the week before to a powerful Nijinsky. Legendary Hanover did all he could do flying home in a sparkling :25.3 putting away a game Fast Louie hitting the wire in 1:49.3.
The second division saw the for aforementioned Nijinsky driven by Roy another pupil from the Beaton Stable coming off one of his best performances taking down the winner of the first division Funtime Bayama in the Ontario Gold Stakes the week before. Taking on the Holland trained Captains Quarters driven by Jamieson the slight favorite in the field. Firing from the outside post Newsroom driven by Dunn swooped to the front with a flash of speed before the first turn leaving Captains Quarters out first up and allowing Nijinsky to tuck in the 3 hole under a strong hold by Roy. Captains Quarters cleared at the 1/4 in :26.4 as Jamieson grabbed into Captains Quarters as they hit the backstretch a revved up Nijinsky went out, back in, and then began a brush to the lead. Jamieson released Nijinsky just before a half in :55 second quarter in :28.1 as they started to separate from the field by 3 lengths. Nijinsky took the field by the 3/4 pole in 1:22.3 third quarter in :27.3 under a tight hold from Roy with Captains Quarters under a strong hold from Jamieson breathing down Roy helmet. As they turned for home Captains Quarters launched from the pocket for a long stretch duel with Nijinsky but to no avail Captains Quarters got to the wheel of Nijinsky but was not enough tonight as halfway down the lane Roy turns Nijinsky loose and he storms aways from the field wrapped up late by Roy in 1:49 final quarter in :26.2. Captains Quarters finished 2nd in 1:49.1 last quarter in :26.2.
Canada's four big colts put on a show for their faithful fans leaving them all sharp and ready to roll into next weeks North American Cup Eliminations. Where they will see the likes of Captain Albano, Gem Quality, Better is Nice, Mirage Hanover, and Total Stranger all crossing the border to take them on in what will be a action packed day of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park on June 8th.
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