Monkey on My Wheel, China Pearls Take Top Money in SBOA Stakes

 

Monkey On My Wheel in SBOA Final (New Image Media)

 

Monkey on My Wheel easily topped her competition in the $132,654 SBOA Final for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday, August 26th.

The Mach Three filly’s credentials had quashed the need for any eliminations the previous week as only four other trainers dropped entries into the box. All five entrants then simply sat out until the Final.

Monkey On my Wheel took the lead for Jody Jamieson just before the quarter and then whistled her way home in 1:51.4 to rack up her fifth straight win. She scored by two lengths over the late-closing Patsys Luck (Mike Saftic), while Modern Connection (Mark MacDonald) took third money.

Trainer Travis Umphrey shares ownership in the talented miss with her breeder Mac Nicol of Burlington, ON.

Afterwards Umphrey revealed that his filly was rebounding from an illness following her OSS Gold final win at Rideau Carleton on August 7th.

“I was a little concerned if we had elims because she wouldn’t have been in it,” he said following the win. “That’s how sick she got after the Ottawa series. Luckily they didn’t get enough to have the elims and we were able to get her healthy for the Final.”

The sturdily-built bay filly shot her lifetime bankroll over the $500,000 mark with the victory. She returned $2.50 to win.

China Pearls Shines

China Pearls also upheld her role as the crowd’s mutuel favourite, scoring for Randy Waples in 1:55.2 in the $148,654 SBOA Final for sophomore filly trotters.

Magic Wheel made an impressive late brush for Joe Hudon to finish one-half length back in the runner-up spot and Oh Sweet Baby took third for Mario Baillargeon.

China Pearls usually lets other fillies cut the mile but this time Waples sent her to the front before the half in :57.2, taking control from Peach Martini.

“I wasn’t really sure how she was going to be in front because I have never raced her that way, Waples said later. “We have always raced her from off the pace, but she is really good right now and I just took a shot.”

China Pearls probably caused her connections more anxiety just beforehand than the race itself.

“For some reason she didn’t want to go to the gate tonight,” Waples said. “She is never like that. She was really quiet and relaxed at the post parade then all of a sudden when it was time to go to the gate, she just didn’t want to have anything to do with it.”

With the win the Kadabra filly spiralled her season’s earnings to $226,105 for owner-trainer Carman Hie and partners Blake Anthony, J. Peter Kloepfer and Ted Murrell.

SBOA Vice-President Larry Morrison headed the group of Directors on hand in the winner’s circle to congratulate the successful connections. Trophies and coolers were presented for both events.
(With files from WEG)

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