A wild battle on the lead left the door wide-open for a closer to capture Thursday’s featured event at Mohawk Racetrack, and that closer happened to be Archangel Three.

After sitting eighth through the first half of the $18,000 conditioned affair, Archangel Three and driver Phil Hudon commenced a bid from the backfield. Rock This Way, Tea With Ms Mcgill and Dreamfair B J took turns on the lead through first-half fractions of :26.2 and :54.2. Dreamfair B J, at 30-1, was still in command of the tempo at the three-quarter pole in 1:22.3, but the ralliers were starting to unwind. Archangel Three, who advanced to be fifth on the outside heading into the final quarter of the contest, kicked home in :27.4 to win by half a length over Fireball in 1:51.3. Dreamfair B J held on for the show dough.

Kevin Benn trains the four-year-old son of Mach Three-Blue Angel Cam for Dennis Chadwick and Benn Stables of Napanee, Ont. The homebred gelding won for the first time this season and for the third time in his career. It was a personal best clocking for the career winner of $54,350.

(Standardbred Canada)