Action Broadway soars in Armbro Flight

Action Broadway pulled a shocker in the $349,000 Armbro Flight Stakes final Saturday evening at Mohawk.

 

Sent off at 27-1, the Virgil Morgan Jr.-trained mare captured her eighth victory of the season in 1:53.3.

 

Cross of Lorraine (Jody Jamieson) took opening panel in :27.3, but into the backstretch, last Friday’s elimination winner, Buck I St Pat (Tim Tetrick) launched a first-over attach from in fourth.

 

The 1-5 favourite cleared the lead at the half in :56.2 and took the three-quarters in 1:25.1.

 

In the final turn, 47-1 longshot, Kandor Hanover (Randy Waples), made a bid for the front and took the lead in the stretch, but Mark MacDonald and Action Broadway came from off-the-pace to win by a neck. Kandor Hanover finished second and Frosty Flirt (Scott Zeron) got up for third.

 

“There was a lot of speed on the outside of the gate and I was hoping I was going to be able to get in behind Buck I St Pat and I did,” said MacDonald following the victory. “Then of course she (Buck I St Pat) ‘quarter-pole’ moved to the front, which I really wasn’t happy with, but it worked out to be the winning move because she had no trot today. I just got lucky, she (Action Broadway) got a nice trip and trotted hard to the wire.”

 

MacDonald believed his charge was a top contender in the rich final after her performance in the elimination.

 

“I thought I had a good chance to win,” said MacDonald. “She was really good last week and trotted hard to the wire. She was second behind one of the best trotters in the world (Buck I St Pat). She was only beat a length and I figured if I could get her a nice trip she had to be right there.”

 

But, he wasn’t confident he was going to make it to the finish line first when the aged mares were in the stretch.

 

“I was praying I was [going to get there],” he said. “It was really close right to the wire. I was hoping she was going to get there first. I kind of thought I deserved it.”

 

The daughter of Broadway Hall-Photo With Molly has a lifetime record of 17-7-4 in 46 starts and boats career earnings of $622,300 for owners Kenneth Sommer of Sheffield, Ohio.

 

Action Broadway paid $57.60 to win.

 

Canadian Breeders Championships in books
Four Canadian Breeders Championships (CBC) were contested Saturday night at Mohawk for sophomores.

 

China Pearls upset in her division of the $156,993 Canadian Breeders Championship final in 1:54.4 for trainer Carman Hie. Driver Randy Waples and the three-year-old filly surged from fourth in deep stretch to win by one and a quarter lengths to capture her third victory in her debut season. Peach Martini (Rick Zeron) finished second and Magic Wheel (Joe Hudon) was third. The daughter of Kadabra-Pure Sable paid $16.30 to win.

 

Monkey On My Wheel, the 4-5 favourite, delivered in her $142,678 Canadian Breeders Championship for three-year-old pacers. The daughter of Mach Three scored the victory in 1:50.3 for driver Jody Jamieson, trainer/co-owner Travis Umphrey and Mac Nichol. The sophomore filly now has career earnings of $368,725. Look Cheap (Robert Shepherd) finished second with Imagine Semalu (Sylvain Filion) third.

 

The 60-1 longshot, Camaes Fellow delivered in his $149,643 Canadian Breeders Championship final for trainer/co-owner Chris Beaver. The three-year-old son of Mach Three stopped the clock in 1:50.2 for driver/co-owner Luc Ouellette and Larry Murrell. Twin B Legend (Mike Saftic) finished second with Prodigal Seelster (Scott Zeron) completing the triactor.

 

Daylon Magician, driven by Mike Saftic, set a stakes record in his $146,755 Canadian Breeders Championship final in 1:52.3. Trained and owned by David Lemon, Daylon Magician (3-5) lifted his career earning to $445,777. Tamarind (Sylain Filion) finished second with Delcrest Julian (Rick Zeron) third. (WEG)