Michaels Power now 4 for 4, headed to NA Cup

With his win in a Somebeachsomewhere division, Michaels Power (pictured) is now four-for-four this year. Two $100,000 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes divisions were held Saturday night at Mohawk. The Ontario-sired Secretsoftheknight (1:52) and Michaels Power (1:51.1) won their respective divisions of the key prep race for the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, which is slated for Saturday, June 16.

 

As the rain poured over the Mohawk oval, Secretsoftheknight, a son of Mach Three, was able to pull off an 8-1 shocker for Team McNair. The colt notched his second victory of the season for conditioner Gregg McNair and his son, Doug, who guided the pacer to the winner's circle.

 

Ideal Romance (Scott Zeron) powered the front to clock the opening in :27.1, but into the backstretch a pocket-sitting Secretsoftheknight made a bid for command and cleared before the half in :55.2.  While the sophomores entered the final turn and passed the three-quarter pole in 1:23.2, Allstar Legend (Luc Ouellette) had advanced first-up from third. The 4-5 favorite, Thinking Out Loud (Randy Waples), caught second-over cover from fourth.

 

Secretsoftheknight was untouchable in the stretch as Thinking Out Loud, who was given open racetrack, could not track down the leader. The bay stopped the teletimer in 1:52. Thinking Out Loud finished second by one length and Allstar Legend was third, beaten five and a quarter lengths.

 

"Once we got to the last turn, I just let him rock,” said Doug McNair. "He held tough right to the wire. He showed tonight that he has a lot of potential and could beat some good horses. He just keeps getting better and better each start. He is maturing.”

 

But the reinsman acknowledges that the competition will be tougher in next week's NA Cup eliminations with the likes of Sweet Lou and Warrawee Needy, who both opted to skip the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes.

 

"It is tough to say how he would handle competing against them,” said McNair. "He has been doing everything right thus far. He's a nice strong colt and it wouldn't surprise me if he can go with those ones.”

 

The colt picked up his sixth win in 20 career outings and increased his bankroll to $249,989 for owners Tony Lawrence, Leonard Gamble, John Newell and Graham Hopkins, all of Ontario.

 

Secretsoftheknight paid $18.70 to win.

 

Michaels Power, who is fresh off of winning the Upper Canada Cup final at Georgian Downs last week, was able to keep his sophomore record perfect after winning the second Somebeachsomewhere dash. The son of Camluck is four-for-four this year for trainer Casie Coleman and driver Scott Zeron.

 

Hillbilly Hanover (Randy Waples) got away first to clock the opening panel in :27.2. Michaels Power launched a first-over attack from third into the backstretch and cleared to the front before the half in :55.3. The 3-5 favorite held strong while Dapper Dude (John Campbell) added pressure in the final turn.

 

After passing the three-quarter marker in 1:23, Michaels Power opened up a two and a half length lead to get under the wire in 1:51.1. Dapper Dude finished second and Hillbilly Hanover was third, beaten two and three-quarter lengths.

 

"He just showed how much talent he has,” said Zeron. "Of course beating the horses in the Upper Canada Cup wasn't an easy thing to do, but he did it pretty handy. But now we have to face the North American horses. He's shown he could do it against the field he was up against tonight. That's a bigger mile than anybody would know because of how sloppy the track is. I am impressed by the way that he did it and I feel confident going into next week.”

 

The colt picked up his sixth win in seven career outings and increased his bankroll to $382,400 for owner/breeder Jeffrey Snyder of New York.

 

Michaels Power paid $3.40 to win.

 

The Burlington Stakes debuted in 1964 and was renamed in 2011 after the renowned pacer, Somebeachsomewhere.

 

Live racing returns to Mohawk Monday night with a 12-race program. First race post time is 7:10 p.m.  (Mohawk)