Mark MacDonald was parked to the quarter with Moving Pictures, yielded the lead to Darlin's Delight, and then rallied his charge in the stretch to win the $379,000 Roses Are Red final at Mohawk Racetrack Saturday night in 1:50.1.
Although it took MacDonald to nearly the first-quarter timer to make the lead with Moving Pictures, it took Yannick Gingras even longer with Darlin's Delight as he got caught three wide in the first turn before taking aim on the top. Gingras cleared shortly after the :26.3 opening stanza and then Darlin's Delight led through a :54.4 half and 1:22.1 three-quarters.
Four Starzz Meliss ranged up first-over around the final turn but when she drifted a bit at the top of the stretch MacDonald seized the opportunity and moved Moving Pictures to the outside. He rushed past a tiring Darlin's Delight nearing the wire but then had to fend off the late rally of Invitro to score a head decision. To Helen Back was third, with Street Dancer fourth. Darlin's Delight held onto the fifth-place check.
The win was the third straight for Moving Pictures, who is trained by Casie Coleman. Owners Steve Calhoun and Michael Lindley purchased the now 4-year-old daughter of DM Dilinger last year. Two starts back she won the $250,000 Classic Distaff final and then last week she equaled the Mohawk track record for her division with a 1:49.3 win in her Roses Are Red elim.
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