CAMPBELLVILLE, July 28 – With Candlelight Dinner skipping round two of the Whenuwishuponastar Series, it was time for another rookie pacing filly to step up and visit the harness racing winner's circle Thursday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
A compact field of six two-year-old pacing fillies clashed in the $14,000 second leg of the Whenuwishuponastar Series.
Black Jack Pat, who finished second in round one, was able to get up in the final strides to score her first career victory in 1:56.2.
Sent off as the 4/5 favourite, Black Jack Pat and driver Jody Jamieson got away second behind Touching Thought and Paul MacDonell. The fillies would remain in the same positions for three-quarters of a mile, as MacDonell and his charge cut out fractions of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:26.3.
In the stretch, Black Jack Pat came to the outside to try and track down the leader. Touching Thought dug in and did her best to hold off the favourite, but Black Jack Pat was able to grind away and got by in the final strides to win by a head.
Come What May also made a late bid to finish right along side the top two fillies for a third-place finish. Warrawee Star finished fourth, while Ohello Blue Chip was fifth.
The final filly in the field, Southwind Gio, broke a hopple before the start and was pulled up in the first turn.
A daughter of Well Said, Black Jack Pat is trained by Dave Menary for owner Dave Van Camp. The rookie pacing filly was making her third career start Thursday and now has a win and runner-up finish on her record.
A $13,000 purchase at last fall's Harrisburg Sale, Black Jack Pat is the second foal out of Camluck mare Mrs Noce, who is a full-sister to Ontario Sires Stakes star Luck Of Michelle ($907,709 – 1:53.1).
Candlelight Dinner, who won last week's opening leg by six lengths, is expected to compete in next week's series final. The Whenuwishuponastar Series finale is scheduled for next Thursday (August 4).
Live racing continues Friday evening at Mohawk Racetrack. Post time is 7:30 p.m.