Southwind Wasabi rallies for Moni Maker triumph

Southwind Wasabi, with two Hall of Famers behind her, trotted past Broadway Schooner late in the homestretch to win the $228,000 Moni Maker Trot in 1:52.4 Sunday night at The Red Mile.

 

Southwind Wasabi is trained by Hall of Famer Chuck Sylvester and was driven by Mike Lachance. Lachance started from post 10 with the filly and raced off the pace while big first-half fractions of :26.2 and :54.2 were posted by Sirenuse (with Matt Kakaley driving) and Celebrity Athena. Finally, betting favorite Broadway Schooner, with Peter Wrenn in the bike, took the lead, but the tempo remained quick--1:22.4 to the three quarters.

 

Sylvester said that as the field hit the top of the homestretch, he was hopeful. "There was a lot of speed and I was hoping the others would tire some and we could get there," he said.

 

Southwind Wasabi defeated Broadway Schooner, with Seaside taking third.

 

Southwind Wasabi has now won four of 11 starts this year and earned almost $300,000 for Sylvester and his partners Neal Goldman, Margaret Dey and Jerry Silva.