Stewart filly winners go gate to wire

A pair of Ontario Sire Stakes stars, Northern Duchess and St. Lads Popcorn, were victorious in Sunday night's two $106,000(C) Robert Stewart Stakes divisions for 2-year-old filly pacers at Mohawk Racetrack.

Both fillies were able to score in gate-to-wire fashion, with Northern Duchess taking the opening split for driver Mike Saftic in 1:55. The daughter of Western Terror-Lady Mist, trained by John Pentland, turned back stablemate Sleigh Belle with Dance With Me Dee rounding out the top three.

It was the second win in six outings this season for Nothern Duchess and boosted her bankroll to more than $145,000 for owner Karen Carroll of Shedden, Ont.

In the second split, St. Lads Popcorn used the same front-end approach and held of 80-1 longshot Bale Me Out at the finish in 1:53.2. Topaz Seelster survived a long uncovered trip to salvage the show spot.

The clocking just missed the stakes record in the Robert Stewart by one-fifth of a second and improved St. Lads Popcorn's seasonal summary to four wins in just five starts for trainer Jack Darling who also owns the filly. The lion's share of the purse increased her seasonal take to just over $205,000. (WEG)

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