2YO fillies in Mohawk stakes

Three $105,000(C) divisions of the Eternal Camnation for 2-year-old pacing fillies were contested over a rain-soaked track at Mohawk Saturday night and the winners were Luck Of Michelle (1:53.4), Lady Mattgalane (1:53.3) and Al's Girl (1:54.4.).

In the opening division, a first-over move before the half-mile pole was all Luck Of Michelle ($2.60, $2.10, $2.10) needed to extend her career unbeaten string to seven, as the bay daughter of Camluck was wrapped up in the lane while on her way to the 2¾-length victory, clocked in 1:53.4.

With the track off due to rain, the presiding ORC. judges rated the oval as 'good,' giving a one second allowance.

Betting Machine ($7.80, $5.60) and driver Ron Pierce finished second and rounded out the $30.70 exactor. Checkouttheview ($8.00) and pilot Jody Jamieson finished third, three-lengths from Luck Of Michelle, completing the $275.50 triactor.

The fractions had been cut in :27.4, :56.3 and 1:25.3, and Saftic indicated that he wasn't ever worried during the mile.

"When I moved her first-over, she brushed to the top quite easily," Saftic said about Luck Of Michelle, now a $288,861 winner trained by John Pentland for Karen Carroll of Shedden, and Natalie Pentland of Dorchester, Ontario. "She was relaxed along the last turn, but I just thought I'd kick her into a second gear and get out [wide] to the good footing on the track."

Out of the Artsplace mare Michelles Destiny, Luck Of Michelle has hands down been the class of the two-year-old pacing filly ranks in Ontario.

After coming first-up on the final turn, Lady Mattgalane ($6.10, $3.10, $2.80) extended her career unbeaten streak to three in the opening division, as Ron Pierce drove the daughter of Artiscape to a 2½-length victory in 1:53.3.

Isabella Blue Chip ($2.30, $2.10) and driver Dave Miller had been second-over on Lady Mattgalane's back, but couldn't get the job done, as the 2006 Sweetheart winner settled to bottom the $11.30 exactor.

Somewhat surprised in victory, Pierce took time to comment on Isabella Blue, his top rival in the dash.

"[With Isabella Blue Chip on my back] I wasn't sure if she was going to get there," Pierce said about Lady Mattgalane, owned by the Perretti Racing Stable of New Jersey, and Clay and Scott Horner of Ontario. "Although I hadn't called on my filly, I really felt Isabella was going to go blowing by me. I guess she [Isabella Blue Chip] wasn't herself tonight because she's a special filly."

Late in the second quarter of the dash, driver Chris Christoforou had tipped Michelles Power ($2.50) first-over before the :56.1 half-mile pole, cleared to the lead, and proceeded to reach the third stanza in 1:24.4. The daughter of Camluck felt the effects of her trip in the lane and eventually finished third, beaten 3¼ lengths, completing the $24.10 triactor.

Out of the Matts Scooter mare Mary Mattgalane, Lady Mattgalane has now banked $97,717.

Als Girl ($12.50, $6.00 $3.60) and driver Richie Silverman snagged the final Eternal Camnation division, posting a one-length victory clocked in 1:54.4 over Bolero Tallia ($6.30, $4.90) and pilot Chris Christoforou.

Yankee Augusta ($6.20) reinsman Paul MacDonell were defeated by 2¼ lengths.

Als Girl, an Artsplace filly trained by Jerry Silverman for Jeffrey Snyder of New York, topped both a $102.80 exactor and a $607.40 triactor.

Having now won two of her three career starts, Als Girl was first to the :28.2 opening quarter. After letting a couple of horses go to the lead in front her, she then went first-up after the :56.4 half-mile pole came to life. Right up at the lead by the 1:25.3 three-quarters marker, Als Girl responded to urging in the lane and was game all the way to the wire.

"This was sort of our plan from the beginning," said Richie Silverman, "we wanted to have her ready for mid- to late-season." (Jeff Renton for WEG)

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