Canadette ties Stewart mark

As expected, Luck Of Michelle and Canadette reigned supreme in their respective divisions of the Robert Stewart Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday evening at Mohawk.

World record holder Luck Of Michelle was the toast of the opening division for driver Mike Saftic and trainer John Pentland, as the Camluck bay used off-the-pace tactics for the first time in her career to notch a 1 1/4-length victory in 1:54.

Out of the Artsplace mare Michelles Destiny, Luck Of Michelle extended her career unbeaten streak to six after leaving from the trailing post position 11 and benefiting from a perfect third-over steer from Saftic.

"I've been wanting to race her like that," said Saftic, referring to the off-the-pace trip, "and being the trailer gave me a good excuse to try it. I thought it would work, and it did. She got a little grabby in the first turn, but after she settled past the quarter she was 'two fingers.'

"I thought the Jamiesons would be racing pretty aggressively up front and be cutting the fractions. I picked up some good cover and it pulled us to the head of the lane, which is all you can ask for."

The fractions were cut in :27.1, :57 and 1:25.3, respectively, and Carl Jamieson's impressive bay Appleoosa Hanover had brushed to the lead from third just past the half-mile pole. Her stablemate, Iwantyou Wantyou, was racing first-over beside her along the final turn before Luck Of Michelle powered past, widest of all, through the lane.

In regards to Luck Of Michelle's mannerisms in the dash, Saftic said: "She gets a little lazy with an open bridle on, so I had to chase her a little bit. In the past I just had to sit there, but she was good and strong coming home."

In victory, Luck Of Michelle pushed her bankroll to $235,894(C) for Karen Carroll of Shedden, Ontario, and Natalie Pentland of Dorchester, Ontario.

Luck Of Michelle is eligible to the upcoming Eternal Camnation (August 19) and the She's A Great Lady Stakes (eliminations August 26) at Mohawk.

Having now notched three-straight victories for trainer Gregg McNair, Canadette put in a stakes record-equaling performance in the second division, as the bay daughter of Mach Three took the wire-to-wire route and stopped the clock in 1:53.1 for driver Paul MacDonell.

Out of the Apaches Fame mare Legacy Of Fame, Canadette now joins Lucks Mistress and Cabrini Hanover as the fastest performers the Robert Stewart Stakes have ever seen.

After closing very hard from the backfield, Michelles Power and driver Chris Christoforou finished just a half-length in arrears. Southwind Rio and driver Mark MacDonald took a pocket trip through the :26.4, :56 and 1:25 fractions and finished three-quarters of a length back of Canadette.

Canadette now has a seasonal record of 5-2-0 from eight starts, good for $222,328 (C) in purses for owner Robert Chapple of Chatam, Ontario.

(Mohawk release)

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